University mythbuster to address trustees

University mythbuster to address trustees

Addressing common myths about the value of a university degree is one of the topics on the agenda for school trustees attending NZSTA’s national conference in Auckland this weekend. Chris Whelan, Executive Director of Universities New Zealand -Te Pōkai Tara, the representative body for the country’s eight universities will present two of the conferences 56 professional development seminars.

NZSTA is keen to promote stronger understandings between schools and tertiary providers says NZSTA President, Lorraine Kerr. It is important for boards of trustees at primary and secondary schools to understand how the education they provide prepares students to succeed at university just as it is for any other vocational pathway.

"Helping students to break through the limitations that they might place on themselves is an important part of helping students to achieve their highest possible educational potential. We need to be encouraging every student to aim high. There will be students in every school who have the potential to succeed at university. We need to ask ourselves if they are all getting the same opportunity and encouragement to achieve that potential. At the moment, the evidence shows that they don’t.

"That’s why we have the focus on 'priority learners'. They’re the students who are not getting the same chance to make those choices.

"One of the outcomes we want is that the school you go to shouldn’t affect your chance of being able to choose the life you want to live, whether it’s going to university or becoming a painter or a farmer or starting your own business."

Over 900 trustees are expected at the conference, which begins in Auckland on Friday.

ENDS

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