Secretary for Education announces retirement

Secretary for Education announces retirement

Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education and Secretary for Education, Karen Sewell, today announced that she is retiring at the end of July when her current contract ends.

Her retirement comes after a career in education that has spanned over 45 years.

“It has been immensely satisfying to have served young New Zealanders all my adult life. I have also considered it a great privilege to be a public servant,” said Karen Sewell.

“We deliver a world class education system for most students. The challenge for the future is to lift achievement for every student, particularly Māori and Pasifika students, and students with special needs.

“I am confident we have the strong building blocks in place on which to further develop programmes and resources that meet the education needs of all young people from early childhood to tertiary.

“I am very proud that we have a world leading Curriculum, a Māori Education Strategy - Ka Hikitia, a Pasifika Education Plan and an inclusive education system, all designed to prepare students for the challenges and demands of the 21st century.”

Karen Sewell says she recognises that those currently in our schools will live their adult lives in a very different world from the one we live in today.

“The challenge for those involved in education is to support students to develop the technical, social and cultural skills and knowledge that they are going to need to be successful in a rapidly changing world. My aim has always been that the education of young people should prepare them to be capable, caring and contributing adults.”

Before heading the Ministry of Education, she was Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer for the Education Review Office.

In 2005 she was asked by the Board of the New Zealand Qualification Authority to act as its Chief Executive at a troubled time for the organisation. While at NZQA she developed processes that led to more consistent results for NCEA.

She has taught at schools in New Zealand and the UK, including Onslow College in Wellington, and was Principal of Green Bay High School in Auckland. Karen Sewell is looking forward to pursuing other interests during her retirement.

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