Articles tagged with Education Minister

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New Parent Portal Updates Help Kiwi Parents Support Kids' Learning at Home

The Ministry of Education has launched an updated Parent Portal featuring the refreshed curriculum for Years 0 to 10, enabling parents to clearly understand and support their children's learning at home. The portal will also include curriculum-aligned resources, starting with a free online math practice tool for Years 3 to 8, with additional content coming in January. Education Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes that these updates aim to enhance educational achievement by providing clarity and tools for both teachers and parents.

Education Minister Erica Stanford Announces New Pay Deal for Area School Principals

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the successful renewal of the Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement, which benefits over 140 principals with improved pay and conditions. Key enhancements include a 4.7% pay increase, a $6,000 NCEA Change Implementation Allowance, phased increases to principal payments, and a $5,000 mentor allowance. The settlement reflects a commitment to professional development, student achievement, and productive negotiations supporting rural school leadership.

Government-Backed KidsCan ECE Food Programme Boosts Child Development and Wellbeing

The Ministry of Education’s ECE Food Programme Kōhanga Reo Survey Report highlights strong support for KidsCan’s delivery of taxpayer-funded meals to up to 10,000 early childhood education (ECE) children, with high ratings for reliability, food safety, communication, flexibility, and professionalism. The report shows significant improvements in children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development linked to the programme, including better energy, concentration, mood, and social interactions. With $4 million in annual government funding and expected taxpayer savings of $145 million in 2026, KidsCan’s programme continues to expand, supporting more children’s nutrition and learning outcomes.

Historic Settlement Advances Support for Disabled Students in NZ Schools

The Government has settled a 2012 Human Rights Review Tribunal claim by IHC regarding education policies that disadvantaged disabled students, committing to a Framework for Action to improve support for disabled and neurodiverse learners. This framework includes better data collection, improved specialist services, coordinated education agencies, inclusive curriculum, accessible infrastructure, and investigations into funding and ableism impacts. Significant investments, including $750 million in Budget 25, have been made to increase teacher aide hours, expand early intervention, overhaul funding models, and enhance curriculum and school infrastructure to ensure timely and adequate support for students with additional needs.

New Pay Agreement Boosts Secondary Principals' Salaries and Support in NZ

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the successful renewal of the Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement, approved by the Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ and the Post Primary Teachers Association. The agreement includes a 4.7% base salary increase, a new $15,000 allowance for leading NCEA changes, and recognition for supporting aspiring principals, benefiting around 330 secondary principals from Term 1 next year. Stanford emphasized the importance of principals in raising student achievement and thanked all parties involved for constructive negotiations aimed at supporting teachers and students.

Secondary Teachers Secure Pay Rise in New Collective Agreement Settlement

Education Minister Erica Stanford has welcomed the successful conclusion of pay negotiations for nearly 25,000 secondary teachers following a majority vote by the Post Primary Teachers' Association members to accept the settlement. The agreement includes a cumulative pay increase of up to 4.7% by January 2027, increased management allowances, and the introduction of a Principal’s Nominee Allowance. This settlement reflects the government's commitment to investing in education and supporting teachers to deliver high-quality learning for students.

Education Minister Announces Pay Rise Settlement for Community Educators

Education Minister Erica Stanford has welcomed the successful conclusion of pay negotiations for community education professionals after PPTA members voted to accept the settlement. The Community Education Collective Agreement (CECA) will provide pay increases benefiting over 1,000 community educators who support lifelong learning in areas such as adult education, music, and specialist tutoring. Stanford emphasized the valuable role of community education providers and highlighted the settlement as a positive result of good faith bargaining.

NZ and Estonia Strengthen Education Ties to Boost Student Success and AI Learning

Education Minister Erica Stanford welcomed Estonian Education Minister Dr. Kristina Kallas to New Zealand to exchange insights on their high-performing education systems and reforms. They discussed Estonia’s success in achieving strong academic results with equity, particularly in reading, math, and science, and explored Estonia’s AI-Leap programme integrating AI literacy into education. The visit also included meetings with New Zealand education officials and emphasized ongoing collaboration in science, research, and education innovation between the two countries.

New Zealand Education Reform Bill Advances to Improve Teacher Training and School Standards

The Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill aims to strengthen New Zealand’s education system by improving initial teacher education quality, aligning system-level settings, and enhancing school property management through a new Crown agency. It introduces updated curriculum requirements, tighter school attendance rules, enhanced oversight of private schools, and expanded support for charter schools to increase educational options and innovation. The bill also mandates participation in international assessments, recognizes micro-credentials, and refines processes to better support student success and system responsiveness.

New Zealand Education Reform Bill Advances to Improve Teacher Quality and School Standards

The Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill aims to strengthen New Zealand’s education system by improving initial teacher education quality, aligning system-level settings, and enhancing school property management through a new Crown agent. It introduces updated curriculum requirements, tighter school attendance rules, transfers regulatory functions to the Education Review Office, and supports charter school expansion to increase educational options. These reforms seek to ensure better student outcomes, clearer standards, and greater accountability across the education sector.

Boosting School Attendance: Insights from Education Minister David Seymour

Associate Education Minister David Seymour expressed disappointment over a drop in attendance rates in the last week of Term 3, attributing it to strike action disrupting learning. The decline in attendance was significant, with almost 20,000 students leaving early, prompting the need for schools to have an attendance management plan in place. Interventions outlined in the plan include escalating responses for declining attendance, with a focus on improving data monitoring and case management to ensure all students have the opportunity for positive educational outcomes.

Education Minister Praises Ellen MacGregor-Reid as New Secretary for Education

Ellen MacGregor-Reid has been appointed as the new Secretary for Education, a role she has been acting in since October 2024. She has a strong background in education leadership, having held senior positions at the Ministry of Education since 2015. The Education Minister, Erica Stanford, highlights MacGregor-Reid's role in driving the government's education agenda and expresses optimism about working together to improve outcomes for all students.

New Education Bill Mandates Attendance Plans for Schools in 2023

Associate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased with the passing of the Education Training Amendment Bill (No 2) at third reading, which mandates attendance management plans starting from Term 1 next year. The new STAR system, meaning Stepped Attendance Response, will provide escalating responses for declining attendance, with schools developing their own systems based on a standard framework. The government's focus on improving school attendance is showing positive results, with rising attendance rates and additional funding allocated to enhance attendance services and support students in returning to school.

Measles Immunisation Week Urges New Zealanders to Protect their Families

Health New Zealand is launching a nationwide Measles Immunisation Week to combat rising measles cases, urging all New Zealanders to check and protect their immunisation status. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the MMR vaccine, promote timely immunisation for all ages, and support health sector efforts to prevent measles spread. Free MMR immunisations are available for individuals aged 12 months and older, with additional clinics running throughout the week to facilitate vaccinations.

Government Initiatives to Improve Teacher Education Quality and Governance

The Government is addressing issues in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to improve teacher quality and restore trust. Recent reports have highlighted deficiencies in teacher training, with many new teachers lacking confidence in subject content and teaching approaches. Legislative changes will transfer professional standard setting functions from the Teaching Council to the Ministry of Education to ensure stronger oversight and clearer policy direction in ITE.