MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION
In May last year, I established a major review into school staffing. I
asked the review team to make recommendations on a long term staffing
formula for schools.
Over a period of time it had become apparent that there were significant
pressure points in the staffing of primary and secondary schools -
particularly small schools.
The review team has now reported back with its recommendations to provide
the Government with a strategy that will lead to better educational
outcomes for every child in New Zealand.
Teaching and learning make an important contribution to supporting the
aspirations of all New Zealanders. Teacher staffing entitlement will
remain the key for the adequate, fair and equitable distribution of
teachers to schools throughout New Zealand. For this reason, the group's
recommendations focus on staffing entitlement.
The Government recognises that significant increases in school staffing
will improve the capacity of schools to deliver quality education and help
resolve the problem of teacher workload.
Improving staffing in schools is something that will be phased in over
several years and the staffing review report will be used to guide these
changes. But improving staffing is only one element in a multi faceted
approach to improving schooling in New Zealand. It should not be viewed
in isolation.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
SOME KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SCHOOL STAFFING REVIEW
The reduction of the primary school Maximum Average Class Size from 28 to
25 with a change in the qualifying roll from 160 to 175.
The introduction of a new staffing component in primary schools called
Professional Leadership that would have the effect of giving the equivalent
of one full time position for management and related leadership activities
at a roll of around 110, instead of the current band between 300 and 350.
The introduction of a management base staffing component in secondary
schools that would assist schools to meet the changes in administrative and
assessment requirements that have occurred in recent years.
An increase in the curriculum base staffing that would assist secondary
schools in meeting the demand for greater curriculum breadth.
The introduction of staffing for guidance and pastoral care to recognise
the time required to meet the pastoral and guidance needs of secondary
students, with some weighting towards schools with high proportions of
students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The reduction of the teacher/student ratio in kura kaupapa to 1:15.
The full report is being sent to schools this week. You can also access it
through the Ministry of Education's website at www.minedu.govt.nz
TEAC REPORT
A new autonomous Government agency that would fully integrate the exisiting
industry training, second-chance education and higher education agencies,
and a new funding and regulatory framework to allow the Government to
actively steer the system are the key recommendations contained in the
second report of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission (TEAC) released
last week.
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said the
Government accepted the Commission's central recommendation that it had to
actively intervene in the system and steer it in a more strategic
direction. "The new Commission proposed in the report provides a mechanism
to bring together all the various stakeholders ? business and government,
students and those who work in the sector, and the wider society ? to drive
tertiary education as a whole system. It is a bold proposal that has much
merit and we want to hear from New Zealanders their views on the
proposals", Mr Maharey said.
REGIONAL TERTIARY FORA
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey and
Tertiary Education Advisory Commission Chair Russell Marshall are
travelling to the major centres over March to discuss the TEAC report
released last week and to seek initial feedback.
The public consultation sessions began in Hamilton last week, and will
continue in Wellington (March 15), Palmerston North (March 17),
Christchurch (March 22), Auckland (March 29) and Dunedin (March 31). The
meetings will provide the opportunity for discussion of the report and for
input into the Commission's forthcoming deliberations. Further reports are
to focus on priorities for tertiary education, and strategies and
instruments to achieve these priorities, including funding of research and
learning, cooperation and collaboration and relevant learning
opportunities.
More information on TEAC is available on www.teac.govt.nz
PACIFIC FAMILY SERVICES FUND LAUNCHED
Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey and Labour List MP
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban have launched a $3.1m parenting and family support
package for Pacific families.
The new contestable fund will build Pacific providers and community groups
to work with families where family violence or child abuse may be an issue.
Community-based groups will be supported to develop local programmes
meeting local needs. Initially groups based in South Auckland, Porirua,
the Hutt Valley and Christchurch will be given priority.
LAUNCH OF TWO NEW WEBSITES
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has launched two new websites in the last
week.
On Friday, he was at King's College in Auckland to launch
www.mathsonline.co.nz - a site that covers the the New Zealand maths
curriculum for Year 9 (form 3) to Year 13 (form 7) and is a complete online
resource for teachers and students. The site is free to students during
school hours but operates by paid subscription outside those hours.
Yesterday the Minister visited Cannons Creek School in Porirua to launch
www.computersinhomes.org.nz - the website for the computers in home pilot
that was established last year with Government support. The Minister also
presented certificates of attendance to parents involved in the project.
INTERNET SURVEY RAISES CONCERNS
Trevor Mallard has expressed concern at the results of a survey published
about teenage girls making personal contact with people they meet in
Internet chatrooms.
A survey undertaken by the Internet Safety Group showed that a third of
girls surveyed had a agree to such meetings, while many others had written
to them or spoken to them on the phone.
The risks of such behaviour are outlined on the safety group's website
www.netsafe.org.nz in an Internet safety kit sponsored by the Ministry of
Education along with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services and
the police.
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 Parekura Horomia - Associate Minister of Education (Maori education)
Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz
