Articles tagged with Students
Government Prioritizes Keeping Schools Open Amid Fuel Supply Challenges
1 month ago | 283 viewsEducation Minister Erica Stanford emphasizes the Government’s priority to keep schools open and students learning amid fuel supply challenges, aiming to avoid the damaging effects of past lockdowns. The Ministry of Education is actively assessing individual school needs, monitoring fuel impacts, and collaborating with sector groups to provide targeted support and maintain critical services like transport and heating. Schools, families, and communities are working together, with many schools already planning responses and improving fuel efficiency, while the Ministry continues to develop practical solutions based on ongoing consultations.
Tags: Erica Stanford Ministry of Education Government schools students fuel supply education system Rural Schools Association school transport pandemic lockdownsNew Zealand Boosts Financial Support for Families, Superannuitants & Students from April
1 month ago | 414 viewsFrom 1 April, the New Zealand government will increase financial support for over a million citizens, including superannuitants, working families, students, and beneficiaries, to help offset rising living costs due to the global fuel-price surge and Middle East conflict. Key measures include increased NZ Superannuation payments, boosted family tax credits, in-work tax credits, and changes to KiwiSaver contribution rates to encourage long-term savings. The government emphasizes targeted, responsible support to manage inflation and economic growth while safeguarding New Zealand’s financial future amid global uncertainties.
Tags: Nicola Willis New Zealand Superannuitants Working Families Students Beneficiaries KiwiSaver Finance Minister FamilyBoost Jobseeker SupportKura Toa: New Iwi-Led Charter School Opening in Porirua in 2026
1 month ago | 756 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Kura Toa, an iwi-led charter school for Years 7–13 in Porirua, will open in Term 3, 2026 to improve education outcomes for Māori students by providing tailored support through partnerships with Puna Mātauranga and Te Pikau o te Rangi. The school aims to address disparities in achievement and attendance among Māori youth by integrating cultural identity, wellbeing, and real-world learning experiences within an iwi framework called Mauriora. This initiative exemplifies the charter school model’s flexibility and accountability, expanding educational choices and fostering community-driven innovation, with Kura Toa being the 21st charter school approved and more expected to follow.
Tags: David Seymour Kura Toa Ngāti Toa Puna Mātauranga Te Pikau o te Rangi Māori students Porirua Charter schools Mauriora Charter School AgencyNew School Lunch Programme to Provide Affordable Nutritious Meals to 242,000 Students Daily from 2026
5 months ago | 637 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced a new school lunch program starting in Term 1 of 2026, providing affordable, nutritious lunches to around 242,000 students daily in contributing primary schools. Ten suppliers have been contracted to deliver lunches to 188 schools, catering to standard and special diets with sustainable packaging and efficient ordering systems. The program aims to save taxpayers $145 million in 2026 by utilizing a regional approach, offering meals at an average cost of $3.46 per lunch without requiring additional funding.
Tags: David Seymour school lunch programme suppliers nutritious meals primary schools affordable taxpayers funding studentsNew Sisters United Academy Charter School Empowering Pasifika Girls for Success in 2026
6 months ago | 801 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced the opening of Sisters United Academy in Term 1 2026 as a charter school, focusing on personalized education for Pasifika girls. The school will offer tailored curriculum, including traditional activities and Pasifika languages, with a mix of learning opportunities such as internships and overseas study. Charter schools aim to provide innovative, community-driven educational approaches with a focus on flexibility, accountability, and student success.
Tags: David Seymour Sisters United Academy Pasifika girls charter school education students learning tools community ideas charter schools state schoolsKiwi Kids Learn Cycling Safety with Expanded Bikes In Schools Program
6 months ago | 578 viewsNew funding of up to $3.5 million from the NZ Transport Agency will support the Bikes in Schools programme, allowing primary and intermediate students to access bikes and tracks in their schools. The programme, aimed at teaching cycling safety skills to kids, is supported by the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust and helps build confidence and key biking skills in a safe school setting. Since 2010, over 400 schools have participated in Bikes in Schools, with the funding secured to continue the programme until June 2027.
Tags: Kiwi kids cycling safety skills bike tracks Bikes In Schools programme Transport Minister Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency primary students intermediate students Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust Paul McArdleNew Charter Schools Announced for 2026: Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic
6 months ago | 1320 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has announced the opening of Aotearoa Infinite Academy, Te Aratika High School, and Altum Academic as charter schools in Term 1 2026, emphasizing the importance of providing tailored education opportunities. Aotearoa Infinite Academy offers online education to overcome barriers to attendance, while Te Aratika High School in Hawkes Bay focuses on vocational training for disengaged Māori and Pacific students. Altum Academy in Wellington aims to address the equity gap by offering a Classical Education approach based on the Trivium method, preparing students for critical thinking and communication skills.
Tags: David Seymour Aotearoa Infinite Academy Te Aratika High School Altum Academic charter schools education students innovation Māori PacificStructured Literacy Mandate Boosting Reading Success Nationwide, Education Minister Reports
6 months ago | 676 viewsThe Government's mandate of structured literacy is positively impacting reading achievement nationwide, according to Education Minister Erica Stanford. All primary schools now teach structured literacy and the new English curriculum, with new entrants undergoing a phonics check after 20 weeks to assess reading progress. Phonics data shows a significant increase in reading success, with improvements seen across the country, leading to a reduction in students needing targeted support and notable advancements in Māori and Pacific student achievement.
Tags: structured literacy reading achievement Education Minister Erica Stanford phonics data student achievement literacy reforms Māori students Pacific students equity decilesImproving School Attendance: ERO Report Shows Positive Trends Under Government
6 months ago | 755 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the Education Review Office's report on improved parent and student attitudes towards school attendance under the current Government. The report, based on a survey of 14,600 stakeholders, reveals a significant increase in school attendance rates since 2022. Schools and school leaders play a crucial role in setting clear expectations around attendance, with a focus on the importance of education for students' future success.
Tags: David Seymour Education Minister ERO report school attendance students parents teachers school leaders education attendance management planTransforming School Attendance Services for Better Student Engagement and Support
7 months ago | 721 viewsAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has revamped the Government's school attendance services contracting system to enhance support for chronically absent students. Budget 2025 allocated $140 million over four years, with $123 million designated for frontline services, leading to the awarding of 83 contracts to Attendance Service Providers (ASPs) nationwide. The new model emphasizes reaching more absent students, understanding their reasons for non-attendance, collaborating with families and schools, addressing students' basic needs, and escalating cases of chronic non-attendance, with a goal to achieve 80% student attendance by 2030.
Tags: David Seymour Ministry ERO Attendance Service Providers Budget 2025 School attendance Education Minister Contracts Students ServicesNew Teacher Bonding Scheme: Incentives to Support School Recruitment Challenges
7 months ago | 790 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 investmentFuture of NCEA: Public Consultation Concludes with Over 8,200 Submissions
7 months ago | 620 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 outcomesGovernment Initiative: Learning Support Coordinators to Benefit 101,000 Year 1-8 Students and Teachers
8 months ago | 743 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 literacyRail Safety Urgency: Stay Off, Stay Safe Campaign Impact
8 months ago | 859 viewsThe event begins with acknowledgments to various speakers and attendees, emphasizing the importance of rail safety due to recent deaths on the rail corridor. The message "Stay Off, Stay Safe" is highlighted as a crucial campaign to prevent accidents. Efforts to raise awareness, educate the public, and implement safety measures are commended, stressing the need for vigilance and respect for the rail network to prevent further tragedies.
Tags: Peter Jackson Megan Drayton Peter Reidy Adrienne Wilcock TrackSAFE KiwiRail Students Against Dangerous Driving SADD Patrick BrockieNew National Qualifications Proposal for Success: Prime Minister and Education Minister's Vision for Future-ready Students
9 months ago | 2015 viewsThe Government, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford, is proposing to replace NCEA with new national qualifications to better equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills for success in the modern global economy. The proposal includes removing NCEA Level 1, introducing new qualifications at Year 12 and Year 13, requiring students to pass five subjects with clear grading, and developing vocational pathways in collaboration with industry. The aim is to provide consistency, clarity, and improved opportunities for students, ensuring they are well-prepared for further study, training, or employment.
Tags: Government NCEA national qualifications Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Education Minister Erica Stanford students skills New Zealand vocational pathways national curriculum