MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION - START OF THE PARLIAMENTARY YEAR
Parliament has started sitting this week and already education is shaping
up to be a hot issue. In her speech marking the opening of Parliament
yesterday, Prime Minister Helen Clark reiterated the Government's
commitment to improving the quality of education, and to supporting
equality of opportunity through the education system. The National
Opposition has signalled that its focus on education will be to scrap the
NCEA ? a decision that has both amazed and disappointed me. (see more
later)
This morning I released the report of the review into the Education Review
Office. The review team, lead by Stan Rodger, has done a great job in
identifying ways that ERO can help improve education in schools where they
identify problems. The Government will be formulating our response to the
report over the coming months but I have already agreed that I will
personally support the recommendation that ERO remain a stand-alone
department.
I'm pleased to be able to inform schools of this decision, within minutes
of it being announced, through this forum. This week, we have updated our
mailing list so that more than three-quarters of schools are on the
distribution list. It is not a replacement for official communications
from the Ministry, but I hope to use new technology to get information on
education events and decisions from the political world through to you as
quickly (and cheaply) as possible. Generally speaking, you will receive an
edition of Wise Up every ten days or so, including around major
announcements. But if you don't wish to use this service, you can
unsubscribe by sending an email to :
leave-wiseup-releases@executive.govt.nz
Talking about new technology, this issue of Wise Up includes some
information about four new digital opportunity projects that are the result
of a partnership between Government and some of the country's leading ICT
companies. They are intense pilots in a few areas, and part of the
Government's overall strategy to establish New Zealand as an innovative
nation leading the world using modern technology.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
RELEASE OF ERO REVIEW - A STEP FORWARD
Education Minister Trevor Mallard and ERO review team chair Stan Rodger
this morning held a press conference in Wellington to release the report
into the Education Review Office.
Trevor Mallard said the review signalled long term changes for the office
that would help towards improving the standard of education across all
schools.
"Schools often feel battered and abandoned after an ERO review. I would
like to see criticism of a school followed closely by practical solutions
and I believe this report provides ideas on how that can be achieved."
There are 27 recommendations including:
- The Education Review Office adopts an assess and assist model
- Review reports recognise the achievements of educational institutions and
include a balance of commendation and recommendation in relation to areas
of concern
- There is a delay of two weeks between the time revised final reports are
returned to educational institutions and their release to the public
- The ERO and Ministry of Education establish an annual work programme on
matters of common interest
A Major recommendation is that ERO remain a stand alone department. "When I
appointed the review team, merging the ERO within the Ministry of Education
was an idea that I was open to advice on. It is a point that the review
team canvassed thoroughly before making its recommendation and I am happy
to accept its advice," Trevor Mallard said.
Please take the time to read the report and its recommendations on-line at
www.executive.govt.nz/minister/mallard/ero-review
TURNING DIGITAL DIVIDE INTO DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Education Minister Trevor Mallard have
announced four education-based pilots to help New Zealand embrace the
economic and social benefits of information technology.
The projects resulted from meetings between senior Government Ministers and
information and communication technology business leaders which began in
July last year.
The projects are:
- The ICT Technology Training pilot project to provide students in five
low decile secondary schools in West Auckland and Gisborne with access to
technology qualifications from Microsoft and other technology qualification
providers and recognition for these qualifications on the NZQA framework;
- A Learning Communities pilot project that will provide 10 schools in the
Far North with access to increased resources, good quality internet
connections computers, software, and professional development. The
project would include extensive community involvement.
- Three ICT boosted study support centres in Canterbury and Southland to
monitor whether increased ICT access can enhance learning outcomes.
- Laptops for teachers and senior students in maths, science and
technology students in four low decile Hutt Valley secondary schools. It
aims to encourage and assist students to excel in senior science,
mathematics and technology
"We have a shared vision of New Zealand as an innovative nation leading the
world using modern technology," Helen Clark said.
"The potential economic and social benefits for the country are enormous.
But turning the vision into reality will require bringing all our citizens
on board and giving them the opportunity to access and gain the skills to
use new technology. It's about access, ability and attitude."
Further information is available at
www.executive.govt.nz/minister/mallard/digital
NATIONAL'S U-TURN ON NCEA
The National Opposition has signalled that they would get rid of the
National Certificate of Educational Achievement ? the new senior secondary
qualifications system that they spent years designing.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard says it's a decision that has amazed him,
and is completely unfair on schools, students and their families.
"When I became Minister one of the first major decisions I made was to
delay the implementation of the NCEA for one year because I felt more time
was needed for moderation and professional development.
"But fundamentally, the system that I inherited from National has not
changed. If I had been at the helm several years ago, NCEA might look a
bit different, but I felt that there had been such a cloud of uncertainty
over the senior secondary school qualifications system for so long that it
would unfair to instigate further disruptions.
"We are long overdue for the change that the NCEA provides. The NCEA has
the potential to challenge our most talented students while recognising the
ability of traditionally non-academic students who would have previously
left school with nothing to show for their work.
"I'm disappointed at National's stance. Before the last election, Nick
Smith convened a multi-party briefing to ensure that the NCEA policy and
development parameters were widely understood so that the NCEA did not
become an election issue. Now it appears National is willing to turn its
own system into political fodder," Trevor Mallard said.
RESOURCE TEACHERS OF LITERACY
New Resource Teachers of Literacy will be appointed to work in nearly 90
schools across the country.
Already teachers who held Resource Teachers of Reading positions have
transferred to the new programme and an additional 40 positions coming on
stream during this term.
The positions are a result of a $34.4 million initiative over four years to
help children, mainly up to eight years old, who are most at risk of
failing to read and write.
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
