Minister's introduction
Thanks for all the feedback following the Budget issue of Wise Up. I'm especially pleased at the positive response that our plans for better support for schools principals and in particular first time principals.
A few weeks ago, I met with the reference group set up to advise on research that will identify the skills, knowledge and attributes needed by first-time principals. The group includes organisations representing principals and experts on educational leadership.
Information from the research it carries out will help with the design of induction programmes for first-time principals. Many first time principals are in small, rural schools and have not necessarily had management experience before. They are often particularly isolated and in need of support.
As you no doubt know, the principal's job is a complex and important one. Principals at all points in their careers need to seek to learn on a continual basis. I have high hopes that the work we are doing in this area will make a real difference to quality education.
Other post Budget announcements in recent weeks include a visit to Otahuhu College to talk about the full service education pilot that the AIMHI schools will take part in from the beginning of next year.
It's aimed at improving both education and wider social and health outcomes for students. Schools provide a good access point for health of social service initiatives because young people are required to attend schools at all times. It has the added benefit for the professionals in that they will be able to work together and share their knowledge.
I've also released more details about equity funding for early childhood education and visited the Otara Community Pre-School.
About 40% of community-based early childhood services will be eligible for equity funding as a result of the new policy.
Trevor Mallard
Minister of Education
PACKAGE TO ENCOURAGE MORE TEACHERS
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has announced a $5 million package to
encourage people into teaching, particularly into the secondary sector.
Key points include an unlimited number of allowances (of up to $10, 000)
for people willing to teach in hard to staff secondary school subjects
including maths, computing, physical education and Maori.
There will also be funding to help secondary trainees gain practical
experience in isolated schools; more TeachNZ rural scholarships; and
changes to the International Relocation Grant to encourage New Zealand
trained teachers to return to New Zealand.
However Education Minister Trevor Mallard warned that teacher supply issues
could not be cured in one quick fix.
"We also have to ensure teaching is a rewarding profession," he said.
ERO REPORT ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN SCHOOLS
The Education Review Office has completed its report looking into sport and
physical activity in schools.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard asked ERO to look at the issue for a few
months as part of the normal review process. His request followed the
release of the Ministerial Review into Sport, Fitness and Leisure, which
painted a gloomy picture of physical activity in schools.
"Many schools took exception to the complaint that they did not do enough
physical activity," Trevor Mallard said.
"The ERO report, which covers 100 reviews on primary schools in March,
April and May, says the situation is schools is a good deal better than the
review team believed. For example in most schools reviewers saw almost all
of the children spending their lunchtimes and playtimes doing activities
like climbing on ropes, ladders and nets;
skipping, playing 4 square, hopscotch; chasing, running, playing tag games;
swimming, and playing aquatic games; goal shooting, playing cricket and
patter tennis.
"In most of the schools organised sport was arranged for all children.
Some schools had specialist sports teachers and made sure that specialist
coaching was available."
NEW UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE SUBJECTS
Six subjects have been added to the list of approved subjects for entrance
to university. From this year students can also count unit credits in
Computing, Drama, Media Studies, Korean, Cook Islands Maori and Samoan.
STUDENTS PRESENTED WITH LAPTOP COMPUTERS
Students from Wainuiomata and Parkway Colleges will tomorrow be presented
with new laptop computers as part of one of the Government and Business
joint digital opportunities projects.
"The projects are a partnership between education and business and reflect
the absolute need for us to work together to deliver skills necessary for
our children to succeed in the new knowledge based world," Trevor Mallard
said.
MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH MAORI BOARDING SCHOOLS
Education Ministers Trevor Mallard and Parekura Horomia have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with Maori boarding schools
The Ministers said the new agreement marked a significant step in improving
educational outcomes for Maori.
It will equip the schools to develop strategies to strengthen school and
staff performance and to enhance their governance and management
capability.
The seven secondary Maori boarding schools who are covered by the
memorandum are Hato Petera and Queen Victoria in Auckland, St. Joseph's,
Hukarere and Te Aute in Hawke's Bay, and Turakina and Hato Paora in the
central North Island.
PRINCIPAL APPOINTED TO NZQA BOARD
The Government has appointed Epsom Girls Grammar School Principal, Margaret
Bendall, to the Board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said Mrs
Bendall has an extensive career in education and has a record of leadership
in the development of curriculum, teachers, and principals."
DALZIEL LAUNCHES KIT FOR ESOL HOME TUTOR SCHEME MENTORS
Associate Education Minister Lianne Dalziel has launched the M-Power Kit
for ESOL home tutor scheme mentors.
The M-Power kit is an important milestone of the Wellington ESOL Home Tutor
Service's pilot project offering mentoring assistance to non-English
speaking job seekers. It's a project that is being funded through the New
Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS).
NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY
Associate Education Minister (Tertiary Education), Steve Maharey has
welcomed the introduction of a new National Certificate in Electronics
Technology. The new revised qualification was launched at the
ElectroTechnology ITO (ETITO) Industry Forum in Auckland recently.
"This has been a very successful qualification with over 3,500 students
from 140 secondary schools achieving credits in electronics unit standards
over the first four years of the NCET," Steve Maharey said.
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
