Wise Up. Issue No# 34

Wise Up. Issue No# 34

Wise Up. A newsletter from the office of Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education

I

ssue #34

22 June 2002

CONTENTS

- Minister's introduction

- Mid term staggered board of trustee election

- More focus on school trustee training

- Innovations funding

- New school in Hamilton

- Tertiary education commissioners appointed

- Strategy heralds new era for tertiary education sector

MINISTER'S INTRODUCTION

I recently had the pleasure to visit Rata Street Street School in Lower Hutt to launch the new strategy to guide ICT learning in schools for the next few years.

It was great to catch up with Acacia whose work I have used around the country as a good example of learning through ICT. It never seizes to amaze me how much progress schools can make in a relatively short time with proper professional development support.

The launch of the strategy took place almost one hundred years to the day of the birth of former Director of Education Clarence Beeby ? one of my personal heroes. This seemed fitting to me. 'Beeb' was an advocate of the right of all New Zealand children to access good quality education regardless of their personal and family circumstances. He is also remembered for his readiness to embrace fresh and innovative ideas.

Something of Clarence Beeby's spirit can be seen in the strategy document. We need to equip our students and educators with the knowledge, skills, ideas and values they need to become lifelong learners able to use information effectively, adapt to change and keep abreast of technological advances.

The ICT Strategy for 2002-04 is future-focussed and flexible ? it sets clear directions for the next three years but allows us to continue to respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing environment."

Good progress is being made in developing school ICT infrastructure, capability and programmes. Our focus is now on helping schools to extend their use of ICT to support new ways of teaching and learning. Some schools are well on the way, others are just beginning. The majority are keen to make the most of the potential ICT offers. The ICT Strategy is designed to assist all schools, no matter where they're at now.

Trevor Mallard Minister of Education

MID TERM STAGGERED BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTION

The first school board of trustee mid term staggered election will be held on 13 September.

About 329 schools, (12 per cent) have opted for a mid-term election. This year's budget allowed more than $1 million to fund these elections. The option for schools to hold staggered elections was a Labour Party 1999 election promise and was introduced in the Education Amendment Act 2000. They will be held every three years, halfway between the standard triennial elections.

"I believe these mid-term elections have the potential to help school communities achieve more effective succession planning for governance," Education Trevor Mallard told the School Trustees Association Conference this weekend

School boards of trustees benefiting from funding will use the money to help with the costs of running their election like the employment of returning officers to manage the process and the cost of mailouts.

New Zealand School Trustees Association is working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the process goes smoothly. Support and advice will be provided to schools through NZSTA's Helpdesk facility.

The Ministry will be sending out an information pack in July to schools that are holding mid-term elections. Funding will be distributed to boards in their July Operational funding drop.

MORE FOCUS ON SCHOOL TRUSTEE TRAINING

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said he would like government to take a more active interest in school trustee training.

The Minister told the School Trustees Association conference in Hamilton that he would like to do some more work with providers and with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to ensure that training undertaken by school trustees in governance and administration is recognised on the Qualifications Framework.

"I think that would allow the training and experience that you get from being board members to be more widely recognised and perhaps useful in your personal and career goals," Trevor Mallard said.

INNOVATIONS FUNDING

Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced more than $1 million to go towards exciting programmes in schools from the school innovations pool.

Twenty-seven programmes have been successful in gaining a share of the funding that was announced. The Government is putting the money into programmes developed by schools in 2002, to target students at risk of achieving poor outcomes at school.

"The Government recognises that the innovation displayed by many schools throughout the country shows that creativity and professionalism is alive and well in our education system," Trevor Mallard said.

NEW SCHOOL IN HAMILTON

Education Minister Trevor Mallard has approved a new school for Hamilton. Rototuna Primary School will open for the 2003 school year - the first primary school to open in Hamilton since 1987.

TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED

Eight members have been appointed to the Transition Tertiary Education Commission (TTEC).

"These members collectively possess all the skills and attributes the new body will need to achieve a quantum shift in the performance and connectedness of New Zealand's tertiary education sector," said Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey.

STRATEGY HERALDS NEW ERA FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR

Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey said the finalised Tertiary Education Strategy will ensure that excellence is fostered in the tertiary education sector and it responds more effectively to New Zealand's economic growth and social development.

The Strategy provides a five-year blueprint for a more connected tertiary system and covers all forms of tertiary learning, including foundation skills training, workplace learning and all forms of academic study. It has been drawn up after an extensive period of consultation with stakeholders on a draft form issued last December.

CONTACTS AND SUBSCRIPTION

Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education Fax: 04 495 8448 e-mail: tmallard@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Steve Maharey, Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) Fax: 04 495 8443 e-mail: smaharey@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Lianne Dalziel, Associate Minister of Education Fax: 04 495 8463 e-mail: ldalziel@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Parekura Horomia, Associate Minister of Education (Maori education) Fax: 04 495 8457 e-mail: phoromia@ministers.govt.nz

Hon Marian Hobbs, Associate Minister of Education Fax: 04 495 8467 e-mail: mhobbs@ministers.govt.nz

Or check out the file of press statements and speeches from all ministers at www.beehive.govt.nz