Alternative Education Steering Group Symposium Summary

Alternative Education Steering Group Symposium Summary

The Alternative Education Steering Group held a symposium on 15 March to identify the gaps in delivery, barriers to success, areas for improvement and effective practices in the Alternative Education sector.

Experts from a range of sectors attended the symposium: secondary school, tertiary education, Ministry of Education, Alternative Education, Health (DHBs, Mental and Youth), community groups, Police and the Ministry of Social Development.
There were a number of key points that came up during the high-energy discussions:

Changing the image of Alternative Education:

During the symposium it became clear that the current perception of Alt Ed needs to change; at present it leaves students feeling under-valued.

Many students highlighted the negative stigma that is adversely attached to attending Alt Ed.

Alternative Education has a long-lasting impact on students:

What did become clear is that Alt Ed has a long-lasting and positive impact on the lives and future prospects of students:

• A number of young speakers involved or previously involved in Alternative Education presented at the symposium sharing testimonies of how Alt Ed was a better fit for them than the traditional school system
• Students made it clear that they wanted similar opportunities and outcomes as young people in traditional education, such as academic achievement and curriculum options.

Creating a better system:

Ideally, Alternative Education should leave vulnerable young people feeling valued and being given similar opportunities, choices and chances to students in traditional education.

For this to happen there will need to be:

• A substantial improvement in resourcing
• A greater consistency of Alt Ed courses across Auckland
• Improvement to the transitions in and out of Alt Ed
• Stronger inclusion and impact of student voice
• Improvement of the effectiveness of Alt Ed pedagogy
• Stronger whanau engagement in Alt Ed
• Better communication of the value of Alt Ed.

The Steering group will draft a priority list of actions to be progressed by the end of April. This will then be recirculated within the wider group. It is anticipated that by May we will have a work plan developed which will inform our submission to MoE.

ENDS

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