Search

Education Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed the release by the Independent Taskforce of a report on the future of early childhood education in New Zealand.

The Minister established the Taskforce in October 2010 to review the effectiveness of ECE spending and to make recommendations on proposed improvements, including changes to funding and policy settings, for a sector which will benefit from $1.4 billion of taxpayer investment in the year ahead, and which received a $550 million boost over four years in Budget 2011.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has officially launched the Canterbury Tertiary College Trades Academy, which is offering vocational trades and technology training to up to 144 students as part of the Government’s Youth Guarantee.

14 local secondary schools are working in partnership with Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) and employers to enable 16 and 17 year olds to earn NCEA credits and a tertiary qualification, free of charge, while gaining practical skills.

Government Ministers Anne Tolley and Steven Joyce say ultra fast broadband to schools will transform the education system by enhancing the way teachers teach and children learn.

Their comments follow the award today of the final two contracts for the roll out of ultra fast broadband around New Zealand and the award last month of a contract for the roll out of broadband in rural areas.

Combined, the plans will see all state and state-integrated schools given a broadband boost by 2016.

Budget 2011 invests a significant amount of additional funding in education during constrained fiscal times, Education Minister Anne Tolley says.

“The Government has allocated an extra $1.3 billion in operating funding and $109 million in capital for education out to 2014/15, with student engagement and achievement our absolute priorities,” Mrs Tolley says.

Budget 2011 delivers significant investment to lift achievement in schools and keep students engaged to gain worthwhile qualifications, Education Minister Anne Tolley says.

“Budget 2011 invests an extra $1.3 billion in operating funding and $109 million in capital for education, of which $621.2 million is for schooling,” she says.

“This includes an increase in operational funding for schools of 2.92 per cent – that’s $118.1 million over four years, as we focus on giving every New Zealand student the chance to succeed.

The Government will invest an extra $550.3 million in early childhood education over the next four years, to allow as many families as possible to access quality services where they are needed the most, Education Minister Anne Tolley says.

Budget 2011 provides an 11.5 per cent increase in ECE spending from Budget 2010 - or an additional $147 million in 2011/12 - bringing the total annual investment to $1.4 billion. 

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Education Minister Anne Tolley have announced that full pre-earthquake operational funding for Christchurch schools is to be extended until the end of the year.

“This will provide certainty and stability for schools in Christchurch until the end of 2011,” says Gerry Brownlee.

“It means schools in Christchurch will continue to receive full funding for the number of pupils they had before February’s earthquake.”

Education Minister Anne Tolley says new study centres are providing extra support for Christchurch students whose schools are still affected by the February earthquake.

The centres provide a supervised place for students to study, and are aimed at students at colleges which have been temporarily relocated to another site or are co-located with another school because of earthquake damage.

“This is something that students and their parents will welcome,” says Mrs Tolley.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says a new award for New Zealand’s top scholarship student will be presented at a ceremony in Wellington tomorrow.

The inaugural Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence will recognise the success of the country’s leading secondary school student, and will be presented at the Top Scholar award ceremony at Government House.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has decided on a number of changes to schools in South Dunedin to strengthen the provision of education for children in the area.

“I have carefully considered a report on the second round of consultation on the future of Year 1 – 8 schooling in South Dunedin, and believe changes must be made to strengthen education,” says Mrs Tolley.

“This reorganisation will ensure there is a sustainable network of quality schooling in the area to provide the best possible education for students.”

Education Minister Anne Tolley has made a decision on the future of schooling in Kawerau, following a second round of consultation.

“Following extensive consultation with schools and the community, I believe a number of changes need to be made to ensure that students in the area have access to the best possible education,” says Mrs Tolley.

“These changes will strengthen the quality of education for the young people of Kawerau, which has been at risk due to viability issues such as roll decline.”

The reorganisation will:

Education Minister Anne Tolley says an Education Review Office report on the implementation of National Standards is extremely encouraging and shows primary and intermediate schools are continuing to make great progress.

“Lifting the reading, writing and maths skills for our children is an absolute priority for the Government, and National Standards are already making a difference for students and parents,” says Mrs Tolley.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has today officially opened a new school at Papamoa, which will eventually have the capacity to cater for 1200 Year 7-13 students.

The $28 million project was brought forward as part of the Government’s economic stimulus programme, which has seen 400 new school buildings being constructed around New Zealand since 2009.

“The new Papamoa College is a fantastic boost to the area,” says Mrs Tolley.

Education Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide have today officially opened a new $6.3 million special education facility in Lower Hutt.

Kimi Ora School, which has relocated from Thorndon, has been specifically designed to meet the needs of students with physical disabilities.

“Students, families, specialists and teachers will all benefit from the new facilities which include a hydrotherapy pool, sensory room, and state of the art learning and therapy spaces,” says Mrs Tolley.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has praised secondary school teachers for voting to accept a new pay agreement.

“This will give certainty and peace of mind to students, parents and teachers,” says Mrs Tolley.

“It removes the threat of further industrial action, and we can now concentrate on raising achievement levels and giving every student the chance to reach their potential.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Kia Orana, Talofa lava. Taloha Ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Malo e lelei.

Good morning everyone.

It’s now more than six weeks since a devastating earthquake struck Christchurch. It didn’t just change the physical landscape - it also altered the education landscape.

I’ve seen for myself the heart-breaking damage – and the sheer scale of it demanded swift decisions and out of the box thinking from everyone in the education sector.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says improvements to the teaching workforce will be addressed at a two-day forum which gets underway in Wellington tomorrow.

“This event is extremely important as we look at ways to improve the quality of teaching, retain great teachers and lift student achievement,” says Mrs Tolley.

“Representatives from right across the education sector will discuss a range of recommendations, following over 900 submissions from teachers, principals, sector groups and the public.”

The Government intends to commission two new schools in Hobsonville that will be designed, financed, built and maintained under a public-private partnership, Infrastructure Minister Bill English, Education Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Education Minister Rodney Hide announced today.

The Government will now seek formal expressions of interest from market participants for new primary and secondary schools at Hobsonville Point, north-west of Auckland. Subject to satisfactory bids, the schools will be the first built in New Zealand under a PPP.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Kia Orana, Talofa lava. Taloha Ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Malo e lelei.

Good morning everyone and thanks for your welcome, Patrick.

First I want to speak about the devastating earthquake that hit Christchurch. 

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Good morning everyone. Thank you Sarah [Farquhar]for your welcome, and thank you for inviting me to speak with you today.

Firstly, I want to acknowledge all those affected by the earthquake in Christchurch last month.

I have been impressed by how incredibly hard early childhood education services have worked to re-open – bringing some certainty and normality to children and their families.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has thanked the Secretary for Education, Karen Sewell, for her commitment to public service following the announcement that Ms Sewell is to retire at the end of July.

“Karen has dedicated her life to education, and deserves praise for her hard work in lifting the achievement levels of students in New Zealand,” says Mrs Tolley.

“During an impressive career in the education sector, Karen has made an important contribution in her various roles.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says the opening of a new kindergarten in Counties Manukau means the National-led Government has now created 1198 early childhood education places in the area.

Mrs Tolley officially opened the Early Learning Counties Manukau Alfriston service today, which was built with $1.3 million of Government funding, and will offer fifty additional places for children.

“The Government has now created 27 ECE services in Counties Manukau, an area where children had few opportunities to participate in ECE in the past,” says Mrs Tolley.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that a National Standards pilot programme to accelerate maths learning has seen significant improvements in a short space of time for struggling students.

Overall, students achieved 80 per cent of a year’s progress after just ten weeks of intensive teaching, with some children making over a year’s improvements in ten weeks.

Education Minister Anne Tolley says that 97 per cent of Christchurch schools are set to have re-opened by the middle of this week.

151 schools will be open tomorrow, with that figure due to rise to 157 by Wednesday.

“Schools are doing a magnificent job in making sure students can return to learning, either at their own school site or sharing a site with another school,” says Mrs Tolley.

“I’m also pleased to say that for the first time since the earthquake, the number of Christchurch students enrolled around the country has started to fall.