Educators to debate secondary futures

Educators to debate secondary futures

This weekend PPTA will host more than 400 educators who are gathering in Wellington to consider the paths that secondary education in New Zealand could take over the next 10 to 20 years.

‘Charting the Future: The Way Forward for Secondary Education’ will be held at the Wellington Convention Centre from Sunday, April 18 to Tuesday, April 20.

The conference will consider topics ranging from global youth culture, e-learning, curriculum integration and assessment, to student transitions, changing teacher career paths and how secondary schools can best prepare students for the knowledge society.

PPTA president Phil Smith said the conference was an opportunity to both consider how and where secondary education could be improved and showcase innovative secondary schooling today.

“We are delighted at the enthusiastic response to this conference from secondary teachers, academics, researchers and officials who see it as a chance to make a positive difference for secondary students of the future and who also want to highlight innovation in many secondary schools today.” Mr Smith said it also was an opportunity for PPTA to highlight its role as a professional organisation focused on improving educational outcomes for all students.

“Often PPTA is cast simply as narrow-focused organisation campaigning for better pay and conditions for secondary teachers.

“While we certainly do that, our people are also heavily involved in all the major educational debates: curriculum and assessment, private schools, Maori education, gender issues, bulk-funding, resourcing and rural education to name a few. “

He said the idea of holding a futures conference had gained strong support from teachers, who wanted to play a positive role in shaping secondary schooling in the future.

“Teachers see the conference as an opportunity to move beyond the immediate pressures of the job and consider how to maximise learning opportunities and outcomes for students in the future.” ENDS

A conference booklet with a full timetable and information about the venue, keynote speakers and workshops is attached. For more information, visit the PPTA website http://www.ppta.org.nz.

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