MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION
A major international study has placed New Zealand among the top countries in the World in some crucial learning areas.
It was my pleasure this morning to host a breakfast in the Beehive for the New Zealand release of the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment.
This is a huge study. More than a quarter of a million 15 year old students in 32 countries took part. It measured student performance in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy. New Zealand ranks third for reading and mathematical literacy and sixth for scientific literacy.
In New Zealand, the study involved 3,600 students from more than 150 schools. The OECD studies have quite strict confidentiality provisions so we cannot name the schools involved. But thanks to all who took part. The results are not only a positive reflection on the work that you are doing, but on our education system in general.
It also gives us a clear steer on areas we need to work on. Most of the indicators are extremely positive. The survey does, however, show that New Zealand has a much wider distribution than most other high performing countries.
That result highlights an area to be investigated further. Wide spread results mean that not only do we have high performers but we also have a significant number of students with quite low levels of achievement. That is an area that I would like to see some improvement in.
It makes me more determined to continue work on policies to reduce disparities. That means maintaining the high standards that our top students are achieving while lifting the level of achievement among lower achievers. I see access to quality early childhood education as a key to achieving that. In this issue of Wise Up you'll find information about a few more recent announcements in the area of early childhood education.
You'll find the international report and all its findings at www.pisa.oecd.org The New Zealand summary report is at: www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/pisa
Keep up the good work.
Trevor Mallard Minister of Education
MORE BUILDINGS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has announced the allocation of $8.241 million in funding for early childhood education buildings.
"This investment in education will create an extra 1024 places for children in licensed and chartered centres over the next year," Trevor Mallard said.
The funding comes from the early childhood education discretionary grants scheme, which provides capital assistance to community based not-for-profit early childhood education services.
The purpose is to assist groups to reach licensing standards or by helping others to maintain standards by removing health and safety hazards. The discretionary grants also increases the number of places available in existing centres.
Nationwide, 77 centres and community groups will have their projects funded over the next 12 months.
VIDEOS TO SUPPORT TE WHARIKI
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has launched two videos to improve the use of the early childhood curriculum. The videos were developed primarily to support early childhood teachers' professional development, but will also help families and communities understand the early childhood curriculum.
They involve teachers discussing their experiences, demonstrating a range of good practices and show everyday experiences of children and teachers in a range of early childhood settings.
READING AND WRITING BOOST IN MANGERE AND OTARA
A new research report showing a stunning boost to reading and writing levels among six-year-olds in Mangere and Otara schools gives a lift to Government programmes to improve the quality of education.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has launched the research report Picking up the Pace based on professional development work among teachers at fifteen schools and a range of early childhood centres in Mangere and Otara.
The research shows that reading and writing levels have improved so much that the lowest achieving students have reached the same levels as those that were once being achieved by the highest achieving students in schools.
"These children are now reading and writing at close to the levels achieved by six-year-olds across the country and that's a great achievement," Trevor Mallard said.
"The exciting results from this work show that reducing disparity is possible with a combined development approach between academics, early childhood education centres, schools, communities, and the Ministry of Education," he said.
The report is at: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/document_page.cfm?id=6444
TWO NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AUCKLAND
Details about two new state secondary schools have been announced. They are the first to open in Auckland since 1979.
"The decision to establish the two form 3-7 (year 9-13) schools, in Auckland's Howick South and Manurewa East, followed consultation with the local communities and schools," Trevor Mallard said.
The Government has allocated $31.2 million to build the new secondary schools. It will allow earthworks to commence but plans are yet to be approved. They are proposed to open in 2004.
CONTRACT FOR TRANSFER COSTS
A contract just signed with a carrying company Van Lines means there'll be a better deal next year for many state primary teachers and principals on transfer.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the contract will provide teachers and principals with a national transfer and removals service in 2002. It will lead to savings estimated at $300,000.
>From next year, all state primary school teachers and principals eligible for transfer and removal expenses under their employment contracts will get back 100% of the applicable costs. This will bring them into line with secondary teachers.
MAORI CALL FOR TEACHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS
Teacher education providers need to better equip beginning teachers to teach Maori students, according to a Te Puni Kokiri report The Quality Of Teacher Training For Teaching Maori Students released today by Maori Affairs Minister and Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia.
Te Puni Kokiri talked to teacher education providers, school principals, beginning teachers, teacher trainees and Maori parents to determine how well they equip graduates to teach Maori students effectively.
HE ARA TIKA MAORI MENTORING SCHEME
More than 1000 Maori school students will receive individual mentoring designed to keep them at school and encourage them to further their education, in a $5.6 million government initiative.
Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia launched He Ara Tika at Horowhenua College in Levin.
The plan is to boost the self-esteem and identity of young Maori, through one-on-one relationships with experienced volunteers from the Maori community.
Parekura Horomia said He Ara Tika was about ensuring young people were guided along the right path, and that mentoring was very natural for Maori.
Mentors will be formally trained to New Zealand Qualifications Authority standards, and the Ministry of Education is developing a performance management programme for both students and mentors.
MORE ICT CLUSTERS
Teaching and learning about information and communication technology was given a big push with Education Minister Trevor Mallard's announcement that another 164 schools will be brought into the Government's ICT programme.
This brings the total number of schools involved in the ICT professional development programme up to 655 since its inception in 1998.
The schools will be grouped into 22 clusters, including two clusters involving Kura Kaupapa Maori. Each cluster has a lead school responsible for leading and managing the programmes.
The 22 clusters selected represent a wide range of geographical locations and decile ratings throughout the country. Each cluster has been given a three year contract, subject to annual review, and will have $115,000 available per year to support their ICT professional development activities
"The diverse and innovative ways that the schools in these clusters have responded to the challenges of this programme is a good reminder that energy and enterprise is alive and well. It's helping to give all our students a quality education," Trevor Mallard said.
More information on the ICT clusters is available at www.tki.org.nz
SPECIAL NEEDS HANDBOOK LAUNCHED
Associate Education Minister Lianne Dalziel has launched a new handbook for resource teachers supporting schools and students with special needs.
The handbook has been designed as a reference resource for teachers working within the Resource Teachers Learning Behaviour initiative, to assist them in their work with schools and students with learning and behaviour difficulties. The manual is being distributed to every school, RTLB, and cluster around the country.
More information: /Speech.aspx?type=speech&rid=36577
GET SUNSMART
A programme to teach children about the importance of sun protection has been launched in Wellington. The SunSmart programme for schools and early childhood centres was developed by the Wellington division of the Cancer Society and launched by Health Minister Annette King.
The programme encourages schools to provide shade, hats, sunscreen and education about sun protection and melanoma prevention. Schools that embrace the programme can achieve SunSmart accreditation.
Annette King said skin cancer was a major public health issue in New Zealand and prevention was something that should involve everyone, no matter how young or old.
"It is encouraging to see that schools are taking responsibility for their pupils by involving them in such programmes. Reducing sunburn during childhood and adolescence is a positive step in creating habits for later life and is a start to changing attitudes to sun protection."
For more information on SunSmart go to: www.sunsmart.co.nz
TKI NEWSLETTER
Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) has a regular newsletter which updates recent developments and additions. I encourage people to access the TKI website regularly. The newsletter is emailed to everyone who subscribes and both current and past issues can also be viewed online.
To view the newsletter, simply click on the TKI Newsletter item in the Regulars section of the TKI home page. To subscribe to the newsletter go to the Interact page. You will find the subscribe option on the right hand side of the page.
CONTACTS AND SUBSCRIPTION
Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8448 e-mail: tmallard@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Steve Maharey, Associate Minister of Education (tertiary)
Fax: 04 495 8443 e-mail: smaharey@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Lianne Dalziel, Associate Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8463 e-mail: ldalziel@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Parekura Horomia, Associate Minister of Education (Maori education)
Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Marian Hobbs, Associate Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8467 e-mail: mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz
Or check out the file of press statements and speeches from all ministers at www.executive.govt.nz
