Minister's Introduction
Welcome back to the start of the fourth school term.
It's the time of the year where we all start to feel a bit weary and
looking forward to the summer holidays.
The start of this term is going to be made more difficult by the pending
PPTA strike action later this week.
I am particularly concerned at the deliberate timing of the strike action
and the impact it may have on students as they are preparing for final
examinations.
The Government believes the needs of the students are paramount. Our
preference is for schools to remain open for instruction in order to cater
for students whose parents cannot make alternative arrangements on days
when the teachers are on strike. It is my understanding that this is also
the view of the School Trustees' Association and they are advising
secondary school boards that schools should stay open. It is likely,
however, that schools may also request that parents keep their children at
home for the day. I am confident that schools will keep their parents
closely informed. It is also the Government's view that teachers who are
on strike should not be paid for that period.
My main reason for disappointment at the strike action is that I believe
the offer on the table to the PPTA is a very reasonable offer.
It includes:
- Pay increases over the next two years.
- A teacher retirement savings scheme that will include a Government
subsidy.
- Extra incentives to help attract teachers to hard to staff areas.
- Improvements to the time newer teachers have away from the classroom.
- A commitment to the principle of non-contact time in each week.
It is a particularly good package when considered alongside the additional
staff for next year that I have already approved. I have also told the
PPTA that there is still limited time to approve further additional
staffing for next year. I do not, however, have an endless pot of money
which is why I am not willing to look at further staffing increases until I
have confirmation on how much the settlement will cost.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
Education Amendment Bill Back Before Parliament
The Education Amendment Bill was back before Parliament last week following
the report back from the Education and Science Select Committee.
The bill includes changes to the way schools plan and report. It also
establishes the New Zealand Teachers Council. Changing the name from the
originally proposed Education Council was one of the recommendations from
the Select Committee.
The next stage of the bill's passage is the Committee Stage, where the bill
is debated clause by clause.
Safety Standards For School Hostels
The Education Amendment Bill also includes provision for the Government to
introduce safety regulations such as a code of best practice or a set of
minimum standards for boarding schools or hostels attached to schools.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced this week that the Ministry was
about to start a consultation process on safety issues and on options for
government regulation. It will be consulting with schools, parents, and
students as well as with organisations like the New Zealand Boarding School
Association, the Independent Schools Council, the Association of
Proprietors of Integrated Schools, Maori Boarding Schools, Special Schools
(Residential) and the Office of the Commissioner for Children.
Consistent safety standards will benefit about 10,000 students who reside
in the 110 boarding school hostels throughout New Zealand, Trevor Mallard
said.
Netguide Web Challenge
There's been a phenomenal response to the NetGuide Schools Web Challenge.
NetGuide report that they have received 1903 entries to the challenge.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard is to present awards later this month.
Meanwhile, you can check out some of the entries that have been received
on:
www.netguide.co.nz/webchallenge/
International Recognition For Computers In Homes
More good IT news with international recognition for the Computers in Homes
project run out of Panmure Bridge School and Cannons Street School.
The project has been given a top award at the Stockholm Challenge 2001.
The challenge, a prestigious event attracting hundreds of IT-entrepreneurs,
looks for the best modern technology ideas which could open up better
opportunities for families.
Computers in Homes, initiated by the 20/20 trust, has been supported with
$45,000 from the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Trevor Mallard
said that being a winner in the challenge would not change the way the
project is run but will increase the chances of extension into new
communities.
Further information about the Stockholm awards can be found at:
www.challenge.stockholm.se/challenge.html
Good Progress For New Tertiary System
The key building blocks of a new refocused tertiary education system are
starting to fit together and will all be in place within nine months,
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey told a
conference last week.
Mr Maharey told delegates to the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education
annual conference that the Government inherited a tertiary education sector
in crisis and has quickly set about building consensus with all
stakeholders on the way forward. He said all the components of the new
tertiary education system would be in place by July 2002.
Read Steve Maharey's speech to the ASTE conference at:
/Speech.aspx?type=speech&rid=36197
Applications For Centres Of Research Excellence Fund
Applications are now being sought for the new $60m Centres of Research
Excellence (CoRE) fund.
Funding was provided in the budget to establish specialist centres of
research excellence that will operate at the leading edge of their field
within the international research community. Operating expenditure of
$40.6 million over four years, and one-off capital funding of $20m for
investment in strategic research assets this financial year, has been
allocated for the Fund. It is expected that 3-6 centres will receive
funding.
More information is available at www.rsnz.govt.nz/funding/core . The
closing date for applications is Monday, 3 December 2001.
CONTACTS AND SUBSCRIPTION
Receive Wise Up by e-mail
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 (special education; transport)
Fax: 04 495 8463 e-mail: ldalziel@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Marian Hobbs, Associate Minister of Education
Fax: 04 495 8467 e-mail: mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz
Hon Parekura Horomia - Associate Minister of Education (Maori education)
Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz
