Education News & Articles
Government Accelerates $413 Million School Infrastructure Investment to Enhance Learning Environments and Boost Economy in New Zealand
2 days ago | 159 viewsThe Government is accelerating $413 million investment in school infrastructure to improve classrooms, boost builders and tradies in New Zealand, and ensure all children have access to safe learning environments. This investment includes $58 million for maintenance work, $255 million for improvements in isolated and rural schools, and $100 million for urgent infrastructure projects over five years. The aim is to support schools, stimulate the economy, and drive efficiencies in school property management to benefit students, teachers, and communities.
Tags: Government investment school infrastructure classrooms builders tradies New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford maintenanceNew Teacher Bonding Scheme: Incentives to Support School Recruitment Challenges
5 days ago | 151 viewsThe new Teacher Bonding Scheme, announced by Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford, aims to support schools facing recruitment challenges by offering incentives of up to $40,000 over five years for teachers who remain at eligible schools. This initiative will help attract and retain great teachers, ensuring all children receive quality education. The scheme, set to start in October, will replace the existing Voluntary Bonding Scheme and BeTTER Jobs Programme, with a focus on addressing regional and urban recruitment disparities.
Tags: Teacher Bonding Scheme teachers incentives schools recruitment challenges Minister of Education Erica Stanford students education investmentEnhanced FamilyBoost Program to Benefit Thousands of Households with Early Childhood Education Costs
1 week ago | 70 viewsStarting next month, tens of thousands of households will receive increased support for early childhood education through the expanded FamilyBoost scheme, as announced by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The legislation for the expanded ECE support scheme has passed through Parliament, with Labour reversing its position to support the enhanced FamilyBoost. Changes include increasing the proportion of ECE fees families can claim from 25 to 40 percent, raising the household income limit for FamilyBoost, and making about 21,000 more households eligible for assistance.
Tags: Nicola Willis FamilyBoost ECE households Labour scheme entitlement Income Tax Act Inland RevenueFuture of NCEA: Public Consultation Concludes with Over 8,200 Submissions
1 week ago | 89 viewsPublic consultation has concluded on a proposal to replace NCEA, with over 8,200 submissions received, showing significant engagement. Education Minister Erica Stanford appreciates the feedback from various stakeholders and plans to carefully consider the responses to strengthen foundational skills and improve teaching coherence. The aim is to create a credible, consistent qualification that prepares students nationwide for success beyond school.
Tags: Education Minister Erica Stanford NCEA consultation feedback qualification students sector assessment changes outcomesFuture-Focused Curriculum: New Senior Secondary School Subjects Prepare Young New Zealanders for Tomorrow's Jobs
2 weeks ago | 256 viewsThe Government of New Zealand is introducing new senior secondary school subjects to prepare young people for future jobs by offering diverse pathways for tertiary study, trade learning, or immediate employment. These subjects, to be phased in from 2028, emphasize STEM fields and include new specializations such as Earth and Space Science, Statistics and Data Science, and industry-led subjects like primary industry and health services. Additionally, the curriculum will incorporate te reo Māori and generative AI education, with a focus on providing students with clear pathways to success through industry-aligned subjects and resources for schools to support implementation.
Tags: Government New Zealanders Education Minister Erica Stanford STEM Te Mātai i te Ao Māori Pacific Studies Music Technology Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Generative AIGovernment Invests $300 Million in School Infrastructure Upgrades
2 weeks ago | 147 viewsThe Government is investing approximately $300 million to repair and upgrade 33 schools with challenging property conditions, aiming to provide safe and improved learning environments for children. The initial $87 million investment will address urgent needs in seven schools, with construction set to begin within the next 12 months. Efforts include cost-saving measures, such as modular construction and standardized designs, to deliver efficient and quality solutions, with further tranches of funding planned for future projects.
Tags: Government school infrastructure investment Education Minister Erica Stanford classrooms refurbishment construction efficiency transparency childrenGovernment Initiative: Learning Support Coordinators to Benefit 101,000 Year 1-8 Students and Teachers
2 weeks ago | 155 viewsStarting from Term 1, 461 schools will benefit from a new Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) staffing entitlement, part of the Government's $192 million Budget 2025 investment to ensure all primary and intermediate schools have access to LSC support over the next three years. LSCs will provide direct support to both staff and students, focusing on neurodiverse students and those with additional learning needs, while also helping schools and families navigate specialist support when necessary. The phased rollout over three years aims to address inequities in LSC access across regions, benefiting close to 300,000 students in 1131 schools by 2028.
Tags: Education Minister Erica Stanford LSC Learning Support Coordinator students teachers parents schools Government training literacyTransforming New Zealand's Universities: Priorities for Success and Global Impact
3 weeks ago | 181 viewsThe speech highlights the importance of universities in New Zealand, emphasizing the need for alignment between student skills and industry needs, faster research impact, and adaptability to new opportunities like advanced technologies. The government is introducing a new Tertiary Education Strategy with priorities including student achievement, economic impact, and international connections. Reforms also involve establishing a University Strategy Group, transitioning to a Tertiary Research Excellence Fund, strengthening quality assurance, and enhancing governance to ensure universities remain independent yet accountable for delivering impactful research and education.
Tags: University of Canterbury Minister Simmonds Tertiary Education Strategy Tertiary Research Excellence Fund New Zealand Global Impact Student Success Science Reforms Quality Assurance SystemTransforming New Zealand's Universities for Future Success: Government Initiatives to Enhance Education & Innovation
3 weeks ago | 193 viewsThe New Zealand Government is implementing initiatives to modernize universities, aligning teaching and research with the country's future skills and innovation needs. The reforms aim to strengthen collaboration between universities, government, industry, and global experts, while simplifying funding mechanisms and enhancing quality assurance systems. Led by Universities Minister Dr. Shane Reti, these changes are designed to ensure universities remain competitive globally, support economic growth, and deliver benefits for New Zealand.
Tags: Government New Zealand Universities Shane Reti Tertiary Education Strategy University Strategy Group Tertiary Research Excellence Fund Quality Assurance Governance AccountabilityNew Appointments to University Councils: Enhancing Governance for Academic Excellence
4 weeks ago | 207 viewsUniversities Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced new appointments and reappointments to the governing councils of the University of Canterbury and the University of Waikato, including Dr Sina Cotter Tait, Steven Wakefield, Fiona Michel, Erin Wansbrough, Hon Amy Adams, and Graeme Milne ONZM. These individuals bring valuable skills and experience to support the leadership and decision-making of the institutions. The appointments aim to ensure capable and experienced councils govern the universities to drive economic growth through talent development and idea generation.
Tags: Shane Reti Sina Cotter Tait Steven Wakefield Fiona Michel Erin Wansbrough Amy Adams Graeme Milne University of Canterbury Council University of Waikato CouncilRecord Attendance Trends in Schools Signal Positive Shifts for Education System
1 month ago | 271 viewsSince Term 1 of 2024, attendance rates in schools have consistently increased each term compared to the previous year, with Term 2 of this year seeing a notable rise to 58.4% from 53.4% in Term 2 of the previous year. Associate Education Minister David Seymour highlights improvements in attendance across all regions, with a significant decrease in chronic absence rates. Plans are underway to enforce stricter attendance measures, including mandatory school attendance management plans aligned with the STAR program by 2026, with prosecution as a last resort for parents who persistently fail to ensure their children attend school. A $140 million budget allocation in 2025 aims to enhance attendance rates over the next four years to promote positive educational outcomes and long-term benefits for students.
Tags: Term 1 2024 Attendance David Seymour Education Minister Taranaki Whanganui Manawatū STAR Prosecution Budget 2025Kiwi Kids' Writing Achievement Boosted with Government's 'Make It Write' Action Plan
1 month ago | 234 viewsThe Government is launching a Writing Action Plan to improve writing achievement among Kiwi kids. New data from 2024 reveals declining writing performance as students progress through school, with only 24% of Year 8 students meeting curriculum benchmarks. Initiatives like the Writing Acceleration Tool and Handwriting Teacher Guidance aim to address these challenges and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed academically and beyond.
Tags: Government Writing Action Plan Kiwi kids baseline data English curriculum structured literacy Education Minister Erica Stanford Make It Write Writing Acceleration Tool Handwriting Teacher GuidanceGovernment's Focus on Literacy and Numeracy Boosts Student Achievement: Education Minister
1 month ago | 190 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes the importance of focusing on literacy and numeracy skills, as highlighted by the latest Curriculum Insights & Progress Study (CIPS) data collected in Term 4 2024. The government's initiatives, including an hour a day dedicated to reading, writing, and maths, have shown improvements in maths achievement and writing against the new curriculum standards. The ongoing education reforms aim to provide strong foundations for students, with structured literacy in primary schools, a new Maths and English curriculum, and targeted interventions to support student learning.
Tags: Erica Stanford Government Education Minister literacy numeracy achievement data Curriculum Insights & Progress Study CIPS education reform programme readingGovernment Expresses Disappointment as PPTA Walks Out of Bargaining Talks: Call for Constructive Dialogue and Realistic Settlement
1 month ago | 370 viewsThe Government expresses disappointment over the secondary school teachers' union (PPTA) walking out of classrooms after only six days of bargaining, deeming their actions disproportionate despite a fair offer being made. Ministers Collins and Stanford highlight the disruption caused to student learning and families due to the strike, emphasizing the importance of constructive dialogue for a realistic settlement that supports teachers, students, and the public education system. The current offer includes a 3% increase over three years, reflecting fiscal constraints and past salary increases, with a call for the PPTA to return to the bargaining table for productive negotiations.
Tags: Government secondary school teachers’ union PPTA Judith Collins Erica Stanford bargaining disruption student learning assessments examsInnovative Charter Schools to Open in Auckland and Warkworth in Term 1 2026
1 month ago | 333 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced two new charter schools, Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki and The Forest School, to open in Term 1 2026, joining the eight existing successful charter schools. Te Kāpehu Whetū – Tamaki in Auckland will offer boarding and dual-language education in Te reo Māori and English for students in years 11-13, focusing on cultural links and recognized qualifications. The Forest School in Warkworth will provide primary students with outdoor-focused learning experiences to engage and inspire children, with proven success in improving educational outcomes for underachieving students.
Tags: David Seymour Te Kāpehu Whetū Tamaki The Forest School Tōtara Point School Auckland Whangarei Warkworth Te reo Māori Kiwi