MINISTER'S WELCOME TO THE NEW WISE UP
As Labour spokesperson on education between 1996 and 1999, I instigated the Wise Up e-mail newsletter to keep in touch with the education sector. The newsletter was a success in that it enabled me to communicate regularly and cheaply with more than two thousand organisations and individuals with an interest in education. It was an easy and fast way of receiving feedback. I especially welcomed the constructive criticism the forum enabled. People who might not normally take the time to write a letter and pop it in the mail would sometimes send me a two sentence response to something they read and include an idea on how they thought the policy could be improved or implemented effectively.
After nine months of the flurry and bustle of government, I want to re-instigate the newsletter on a regular basis. It will not replace official communications, but is aimed at providing regular progress reports on policy developments and to keep the education sector informed on what the Government is doing within the education portfolio.
I hope that you will find it a useful forum.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
THE EDUCATION COUNCIL
Submissions have now closed on the consultation document for the Education Council. There was a great response - 1344 submissions received from throughout the sector and overall a very positive reaction to the proposal.
An analysis of the submissions is now being worked on and the Government is on track to introduce legislation by the end of the year. It's expected that the legislation will be passed next year and the council established about July.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PRINCIPALS
Education Minister Trevor Mallard provided Wellington principals with the update on work looking at professional development for principals and aspiring principals when he spoke to them last week.
"This is an issue that both principals and boards feel needs to be addressed from a more central perspective. I am keen to see that it is well coordinated. So far this year there has been consultation with key sector groups and a stock take of the range and the type of professional development currently available to principals.
"They've also looked at what is happening overseas. Already gaps have been identified and the next step is a series of focus groups that will examine more closely the needs of different types of principals and aspiring principals. For example, an urban principal of five years has quite different needs from a first year principal in a two-teacher rural school."
Trevor Mallard presented Peter Norton of Maidstone Intermediate School with the Wellington Regional Principals' Association study award. Mr Norton will use the award to study a Boston programme aimed at improving educational outcomes for minorities.
SPECIAL EDUCATION - FURTHER SUBMISSIONS
The Government is receiving further submissions following the release of the review into Special Education 2000. Associate Education Minister Lianne Dalziel said the recommendation to replace the Specialist Education Service (SES) with a national network of district support and resource centres is a significant one which was on the boundary of the terms of reference and therefore should be subject to a further round of consultation.
Parents, schools and any other interested parties will have until the 26th of September to lodge submissions on this aspect of the review. The Wylie Report is available online at www.executive.govt.nz/minister/dalziel
PROTECTION FOR STUDENTS AT PRIVATE TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS
Students who enrol at private training establishments will have greater fee
protection from next year as a result of changes announced by Associate
Education Minister Steve Maharey.
Speaking at the annual conference of the New Zealand Association of Private
Education Providers in Wellington last week, Steve Maharey said several recent
high profile examples of financial failure or NZQA deregistration have shown
that students are vulnerable in cases where closure happens part way through
their course.
Students may have nothing to show for the course fees they have paid, no
prospect of any fee refund, and may be unable to access their academic records
to gain credit for work completed.
From 31 January 2001, the effective beginning of the 2001 academic year, NZQA
will introduce a new registration requirement on PTEs to include proof of
adequate protection of student fees in the event of closure. Providers will be
required to either arrange fee protection insurance or enter into mutual support
arrangements with other PTEs.
"Students committing to a course of study need to know that they are protected
in the event that their education provider ceases operating," Steve Maharey
said.
BUDGET OVERVIEW
There were 75 new education initiatives in the June Budget. They're not all
matters that make the front pages of your newspapers but there are a number of
areas that will have specific interest to people working in education. Future
issues of Wise Up will give a progress report on the implementation of Budget
initiatives.
Overall, spending on education increases by almost $300 million in this
financial year from pre-election levels, including $200 million in new
initiatives.
There will be a capital injection of $160 million - the largest ever school
property works programme. It is being used to meet roll growth and to upgrade
existing schools.
The end of bulk funding allows the Government to distribute amongst all schools
all the money the previous government set aside for the scheme - including $45
million which was never taken up. Along with the $15 million increase in
operational funding, that means an extra $60 million in schools to run schools
next year.
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
