Search

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the appointment of an advisory group to consider possible changes to the education funding systems.

“The group comprised of school, early childhood education (ECE) and union leaders will test a number of proposed directions for change to improve the ECE and school funding systems to better support our kids to receive the best possible education,” says Ms Parata. “It will hold its first meeting on May 20.”

An extra 1250 students will benefit from extra teacher aides thanks to a $15.3 million Budget 2016 funding increase for in-class support, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The operating funding increase, to be spread over four years, will ensure that students with a range of learning difficulties receive support tailored to their individual learning needs,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today met with the New Zealand Sign Language Advisory Group and the visiting World Federation of the Deaf Board to mark Sign Language Awareness Week.

“2016 marks 10 years since New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) became an official language of New Zealand and it is used on a daily basis by thousands of people,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says a significant milestone has been reached with more than 1000 schools now in Communities of Learning, supporting more than 320,000 kids.

Ms Parata today announced another 21 communities have been approved, taking the total number to 117.

“We’ve now got over 1000 schools involved in Communities of Learning which is 40 percent of all schools.

“This is magnificent. These communities will help drive up achievement for all kids all the way along the pathway from early learning to senior secondary.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the official opening of Rototuna Junior High School in Hamilton.

The school, which caters for Year 7 to 10 students, opened its doors at the beginning of the year with the largest-ever first day intake of students – 634.

“The size of the opening day roll is testament to the vision and hard work of the Establishment Board of Trustees and Principal Fraser Hill,” says Ms Parata, who was due to attend the official opening, but was prevented by fog from getting to Hamilton.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is encouraging parents and others in the community to put themselves forward for School Board of Trustee elections now that nominations have opened.

“In our self-managing education system board members have big say in how our schools are run, what they teach and how they engage with students and the wider community,” says Ms Parata. “I urge all those who think they have something to offer to consider standing for election.

“You don’t need to be a parent or have a child at school but you do need

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated former Rutherford College student Oxana Repina on being awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence at the NZQA Top Scholar Awards at Parliament today.

“The award recognises achievement at the highest overall level of academic excellence,” says Ms Parata. “Oxana’s success is something she and her school can be incredibly proud of.”

Fourteen finalists have been selected from more than 200 entries for the prestigious 2016 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The finalists come from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Canterbury and Southland and include early childhood services, primary and secondary schools.

They were chosen by a panel of education experts from a total of 212 entries. 

Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced that a new education research scholarship worth $15,000 a year for up to two years is to be awarded in honour of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

“The Education Research Masters Scholarship will be awarded by the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund to support an exciting, up-and-coming education thinker examining ways to ensure even more Māori enjoy and achieve education success as Māori,” says Ms Parata.

Another 350 schools will be able to access wireless technology, thanks to a funding increase for the Ministry of Education’s Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP), Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“An extra $8.5 million will be spent on WSNUP, which retrofits wireless technology in schools to enable them to access the latest digital resources,” says Ms Kaye. 

Jack Matthews has been reappointed as a director of Network for Learning Ltd (N4L) for a full three-year term, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Ms Kaye also announced the retirement of Martin Wylie, who has served on the board since 2012.

“Both Mr Matthews and Mr Wylie have provided strong leadership and guidance,” says Ms Kaye.

“Mr Wylie brought to the table considerable expertise in law, IT and telecommunications, and I’d like to acknowledge the contribution he has made over the past four years.”

Riverhead School in North-West Auckland will benefit from a $9.4 million upgrade, which will see the construction of a new two-storey classroom block and a new administration building, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

This follows last week’s announcements of a $4 million upgrade for Bayswater School on Auckland’s North Shore, and a $4.2 million upgrade for Papatoetoe Central School in South Auckland.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced that the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Board is now the official administrator of the 28th (Māori) Battalion’s name, emblem and trademark.

This role was previously the responsibility of the 28th (Māori) Battalion Association, which held a National Commemorative Ceremony in 2012 to mark its closure.

Ms Parata, who chairs the Board, says the Association saw the Board as the natural successor to protect the name and emblem of the 28th (Māori) Battalion.

A new, two-storey classroom block will be built as part of a $4.2 million upgrade for Papatoetoe Central School in South Auckland, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“The new block will have eight learning spaces and will replace six older classrooms at the school. It will also provide two additional classrooms, to accommodate expected roll growth,” says Ms Kaye.

Papatoetoe Central School is one of 12 schools in New Zealand that are over 150 years old.

Bayswater School on Auckland’s North Shore will get six new learning spaces as part of a $4 million upgrade, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This project includes the construction of a new, four-classroom block, as well as a satellite unit of Wilson Special School, comprising two learning spaces,” says Ms Kaye.

The upgrade will allow Bayswater School to cater for growing numbers of students.

The new $16.8 million West Rolleston Primary School is a welcome addition to the thriving greater Christchurch schooling network says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye, who officially opened the school today.

The region’s newest school opened its doors at the beginning of the school year and is part of a $1.137 billion investment to rebuild and renew 115 schools in greater Christchurch over the next decade.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye has marked the start of Halswell Residential College’s $9 million redevelopment at a soil-turning ceremony today.

Halswell Residential College provides round-the-clock special education for children and young people with complex needs. Students at the school are supported by specialist resources, individualised programmes and highly-trained staff in a stable and nurturing environment.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced the five outstanding winners of the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship was established in 1948 in honour of the 28th Māori Battalion and supports future Māori leaders to be successful in education.

Ms Parata, who is Chair of the Scholarship Fund Board, says that this year’s winners share the same qualities that earned the battalion an honoured place in New Zealand history.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye will unveil a plaque this morning to mark the official start of a major redevelopment at Takapuna Grammar School.

“This $26 million project will see the restoration of the school’s 90-year-old main block, which is regarded as a heritage icon by the school and local community,” says Ms Kaye.

“I’d like to acknowledge local MP Maggie Barry, who has worked with the school on its property issues.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced funding of $500,000 to enable over 40 more schools nationwide to receive wireless technology, as part of the Ministry of Education’s Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP).

“Earlier this year, I announced the completion of the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP), which has provided state and state-integrated schools with upgraded core on-site infrastructure such as cabling and switching, to enable them to access high-quality internet for learning,” says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says thousands of secondary school students will have free access to new online tools to help them with maths and literacy.

E-Ako Maths is an interactive online resource currently used every year in primary schools. Since 2012, tens of thousands of students have solved maths problems and answered questions at their own pace to enhance their class work.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has paid tribute to Sir Brother Patrick Lynch KNZM for his service to education as he steps down from his role as CEO of the Association of Proprietors’ of Integrated Schools (APIS) after 22 years.

Sir Brother Patrick is also stepping down from his role as CEO of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office (NZCEO) having announced his retirement in January 2015.

Ms Parata says he has made an immense contribution to education in New Zealand and internationally throughout his long and distinguished career.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says she is delighted by the record number of entries for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards.

“It’s fantastic that so much of the excellent work being done every day has been put forward, so it can be recognised, celebrated and showcased,” says Ms Parata.

Entries have more than doubled this year to over 200 and have come from 91 early childhood services and schools.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says a more comprehensive approach is being put in place to meet the growing demand for land for schools.

“With an additional 107,000 school students expected in Auckland alone by 2040, the Ministry of Education is ensuring it has greater flexibility to obtain land for schools,” says Ms Kaye.

“The Ministry looks to expand an existing school or establish a new one when there’s a growing school age population, but in a lot of urban areas there are real pressures on land availability.