Taskforce to review ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ appointed

The experts charged with undertaking the biggest review of the way our schools are governed, managed and administered in 30 years have been appointed.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins says our schooling system needs to be able to respond to the education needs of the future. This Government wants a high quality public education system that brings out the very best in all New Zealanders.

“The Tomorrow’s Schools Review Independent Taskforce will focus on the changes we need to make to governance, management and administration in education to ensure the fitness of the school system to meet the challenges we face,” Chris Hipkins says.

The Taskforce members are:
Bali Haque, Chair
Barbara Ala’alatoa
Mere Berryman
John O’Neill
Cathy Wylie

“I announced the terms of reference for the review in March. The taskforce will look at how we can better support equity and inclusion for all children throughout their schooling, what changes are needed to support their educational success, and at the fitness of our school system to equip all our students for the modern world.

“The Taskforce will also be supported and informed by a designated cross-sector advisory panel of about 30 members that will include representatives of teachers, principals, boards of trustees, the LGBTQIA+ community, parents of children with additional learning needs, employers and young people.

The organisations already invited to be represented on the panel include:
NZ Educational Institute Te Riu Roa
NZ School Trustees Association
NZ Principals’ Federation
NZ Pasifika Principals
Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools
Te Akatea
Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand (SPANZ)
Ngā Kura ā Iwi
NZ Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools
Area Schools Association of NZ
Post Primary Teachers Association
Special Education Principals Association
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori

“This is a significant review that could have implications for a wide range of New Zealand families. That is why genuine and meaningful consultation is paramount, and I expect the Taskforce will spend the next few months gaining an understanding of our current system and engaging with all stakeholders on the themes and scope outlined in the Terms of Reference.

“The feedback from the Education Conversation launched by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last month will play a key role in shaping the Taskforce’s advice to me. It is one of the earliest chances for all New Zealanders to give their thoughts and experiences of the schooling system, and their advice on any improvements and changes.

The Taskforce is due to report back to the Minister in November 2018. Its recommendations will form the basis for further public consultation in 2019.

The review of Tomorrow’s Schools is part of the Government’s education work programme, announced in February.

More information on the review, including the Cabinet paper is available athttp://www.education.govt.nz/tsr

TOMORROW’S SCHOOLS REVIEW INDEPENDENT TASKFORCE BIOS

Bali Haque, Chair, has provided leadership to principals and teachers as the President and Executive member of the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand, and as an Executive member of the PPTA. He has been the Principal of four secondary schools and Deputy Chief Executive of NZQA.

Author of Changing our Secondary Schools published in 2014, Bali critiques the education reform process in New Zealand since 1989. He also authored New Zealand Secondary Schools and your Child a Guide for Parents, published in 2017. Bali has presented extensively to school leaders and teachers on change management, strategic planning and self-review, professional development and assessment practice.

Barbara Ala’alatoa is a New Zealand Samoan, born and raised in Auckland. Barbara was appointed as inaugural Chair of the Education Council of Aotearoa NZ in 2015. Her term expires on 1 July 2018. Barbara is currently Principal at Sylvia Park Primary School, where she and her team have designed a unique home school partnership, Mutukaroa, which has resulted in significant shifts in student achievement and is currently being rolled out to other schools.

Barbara has over 30 years’ experience in teaching and working across the education sector, including lecturing at Auckland College of Education and co-ordinating schooling improvement at the Ministry of Education. In 2014, she received the Honour, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

Professor Mere Berryman, iwi: Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whare, is a Professor at the University of Waikato and Director of Poutama pounamu. She aims to challenge the pervasive and historical discourses that perpetuate educational disparities for Māori students and disrupt these through school leadership and reform initiatives. In her research, she combines understandings from kaupapa Māori and critical theories and has published widely in this field. In 2016, she received the New Zealand Honour, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and to Māori in education.

Professor John O’Neill is Head of the Institute of Education at Massey University. For over 35 years he has been a teacher, teacher educator and educational leader in schools and universities in England and New Zealand. In 2012, he received the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand career excellence award and a Massey University Research Excellence medal. He is an honorary member of the Normal and Model School Principals’ Association and an honorary life member of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education.

Dr Cathy Wylie is a Chief Researcher at New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER). Her main research expertise is education policy and how it impacts on learning, teaching, school leadership and more equal learning opportunities. Cathy’s 2012 book, Vital Connections, makes a case for system change to strengthen all our schools and counter uneven educational opportunities. Her longitudinal study ‘Competent Learners’ provides important understanding about engagement and achievement in learning from early childhood education into early adulthood, and of the importance of the national curriculum’s key competencies.

Cathy received the NZ Association of Educational Researchers McKenzie Award in 2010 and was made a Member of the Order of New Zealand for services to education in 2014.

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