5 October 2004
Value our teachers on World Teachers’ Day and every day
Effective teaching can transform the life prospects of learners irrespective of the learner’s background, says Secretary
for Education, Howard Fancy, on World Teachers’ Day.
“Quality teachers shape, influence and can transform the future of every individual student and we should recognise
this today and on all days,” says Howard Fancy.
“I thank the tens of thousands of teachers in New Zealand for the difference they make to so many learners.
“Research tells us about the priority that must be given to ensuring effective teaching and ensuring every teacher
believes that they can make a difference to every student. Teachers need to be confident that they have the knowledge,
understandings, practices and support for this to happen.
“New Zealand has a good education system with high average achievement on international comparisons. But we have a wide
gap between our highest and lowest achieving students that is critical to narrow. The challenge is to both raise
achievement and reduce disparity for all students in our system. “Increasingly research, practice and experience in New
Zealand is showing how this is possible and can be done.
“Communities, education providers, families and teachers all have a role to play in creating an environment in which
all students achieve and are expected to achieve. Students who find learning rewarding and fun as early as three and
four are more likely to be enthusiastic, high achieving learners for the rest of their lives.”
The Ministry of Education is working with teachers, principals, and other education sector organisations to develop
improved tools, more information, and to provide focussed professional development that will help teachers to teach
better.
More recently, the collective employment agreements with both primary and secondary teachers will create a real
opportunity to work with teachers and their representatives to further build the professional capability of our teaching
force over the next few years. UNESCO Associated Schools Project (ASPnet) events to celebrate World Teachers’ Day in New
Zealand include a dinner at the Auckland University of Technology and a video launch at the University of Auckland’s
Faculty of Education.
ENDS