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Education Minister Hekia Parata today praised the achievement of young mathematicians while guest of honour at a major international maths competition.

“I was delighted to accept the invitation to present awards at the Australian Mathematics Trust presentation ceremony. Maths is such an important subject. It develops problem solving and organisational skills.  Mastering basic maths helps learners manage personal finances and even their time,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced her decision to close Salisbury School in Nelson and McKenzie Residential School in Christchurch.

“After carefully considering all the information provided to me, including the responses from the schools, and information provided at my meetings with the Boards of the schools, I have decided to close the two schools. 

Education Minister Hekia Parata reiterated that consultation is genuine and she is listening when she met with the Canterbury Primary Principals’ Association, the Canterbury Intermediate School Principals’ Association, and the Canterbury West Coast Secondary Principals’ Association in Christchurch yesterday.

Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples has renewed his call for New Zealand history to be taught in all schools, saying a knowledge of history is essential to effective and inclusive education.

In a speech to the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand in Palmerston North, Dr Sharples suggested that Māori children were not achieving well in education because teachers, along with other New Zealanders, are not familiar with the history and traditions that make Māori students who they are today.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has offered to visit all the schools proposed for closure or merger in greater Christchurch.

Ms Parata has written to the 37 schools most affected by the proposals offering to meet with parents and the schools’ communities over the next three weeks.

“I am keen to visit schools, listen to parents and school communities to hear all that they wish to tell me. We want to get this right. 

I move that the Education Amendment Bill be now read a first time.

I nominate the Education and Science Committee to consider the Bill.  

This Government is committed to ensuring that every young New Zealander has the skills and qualifications required to successfully participate in the modern economy. 

The first objective of the Bill is to provide for Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today acknowledged the Waitangi Tribunal's report on the Treaty of Waitangi claim relating to the Crown and kōhanga reo.

Ms Parata says the report findings will be assessed and considered alongside current work on funding and participation in the early years of learning and the development of Tau Mai Te Reo [the Ministry of Education's Māori Language in Education plan].

"I will be seeking a meaningful and constructive way forward," says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the Education Amendment Bill, introduced today, includes a number of changes which will help improve education outcomes for learners.

“Changes to the Education Amendment Bill will provide more clarity for schools and Boards of Trustees, and ensure children’s needs remain the central focus for our educators,” says Ms Parata.

The establishment of Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua is one step closer with the introduction of the Education Amendment Bill, Associate Education Minister John Banks said today.

“The Bill sets out the legal framework for this exciting new type of school which is based on international best practice but tailored to New Zealand’s unique education and social environment,” Mr Banks said.

“The Partnership Schools|Kura Hourua model has been developed to assist those students whose needs are not being met in the current education system. 

A further 150 schools will be ready for the ultra-fast broadband rollout as the next stage of the School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP) is announced.

Associate Minister of Education, Craig Foss says that upgrade work on 150 schools will start by the end of the year.

More than one third of eligible schools have already been upgraded, giving students access to a faster, better quality internet connection.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced a review of home-based early childhood education.

The review will seek to ensure that home-based early childhood education (ECE) aligns with the Government’s broader goals and priorities for ECE.  If not, changes in regulations, licensing practices and funding may be required.

“Home-based ECE is the most rapidly growing part of the ECE sector and has a high proportion of enrolments of children aged less than two years,’’ says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says National Standards data published for the first time today on the Ministry of Education’s Education Counts website is a significant step forward in helping build the reading, writing and math skills of young learners.

“Our Government introduced National Standards to raise achievement, to identify children who are falling behind, to help parents help their children, and help schools to focus on what they need to do,’’ says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says students are leaving school with higher qualifications than ever before, including young Maori and Pasifika.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says National Standards data reported for the first time has set a baseline of Years 1-8 learner achievement.

The Government will invest $1 billion over the next 10 years to restore the education sector in greater Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The whole education sector has experienced huge disruption following the earthquakes,’’ Mr Brownlee says.

Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples welcomes the belated interest of the Labour Party in the Government’s decision to increase funding to reading programmes in primary schools.

“Labour’s leader may not realise that the 2011 Budget allocated $6.5 million to expand family-based literacy programmes to all decile one, two and three schools, building on the Reading Together programme.

Kaupapa Māori education has been part of the renaissance that has helped rebuild Māori people and culture in recent decades, according to the Associate Minister of Education, Dr Pita Sharples.

In a hard-hitting speech to the World Indigenous Lawyers’ Conference at Waikato University this afternoon, Dr Sharples said the destructive forces of colonisation were turned around in the 1970s and since.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced she will meet with school leaders in Christchurch next Thursday to discuss the approach for education renewal in the greater Christchurch area.

“The priority is delivering a network that will meet changing community needs and deliver better outcomes for learners. It is vital that the investment we make translates into improved educational performance and service delivery,’’ says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today launched a new education resource at Raroa Normal Intermediate in Johnsonville, aimed at helping students boost their financial skills.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata today released two action plans which detail the Government’s work to achieve the Better Public Service targets of boosting skills and employment.

The Result Action Plans – 5 and 6 – were announced by the Ministers at the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) in Petone.

The Ministerial Cross-Sector Forum on Raising Achievement today discussed the qualities needed by teachers in the 21st century and reviewed the on-going work of sub-groups around priority learner achievement and Public Achievement Information including for Maori-medium learners.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today announced a proposal for a new mixed model of support for learners with special educational needs.

The model would include both community-based services and residential special schools. Two of the country’s four residential special schools would remain open, and the new ‘wrap-around’ tailored service would be expanded. The service will provide individualised support for learners with complex needs in their own communities.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced that the Government is working with representatives of the education sector to resolve a long-standing administrative error that has meant some schools have received more short-term relief staffing entitlement than others.

Ministers Tony Ryall, Hekia Parata and Paula Bennett have today set out how the social sector will deliver the Prime Minister’s challenge for better public services for vulnerable children.