NZ Principals’ Federation Moot

4 April 2008

Karen SewellSecretary for Education

Ministry Priorities1 Foundation Years

2 People engaged and achieving in education and learning

3 Maori language education

4 An education system for the 21st century

5 Education agencies working effectively and efficiently to achieve education outcomes

Successes:

• World class system and

• Student achievement

• Sustained performance

Challenges:

• Persistent spread and poor performance

• No change over time

• Low retention rates

Primary SecondaryTransition to labour market

Ski

ll le

vels

low

high

2006

Proportion of high / low achiever within ethnic group

0

0.5

Pasifika Maori Pakeha

High achievers

1 in 5

1 in 4

1 in 2

0

0.5

Pasifika Maori Pakeha

Low achievers

1 in 3

< 1 in 10

1 in 4

What can we build on

• ECE strategy

• NZ Curriculum

• Te Marautanga Aotearoa

• Ka Hikitia

What can we build on

• Pasifika Education Strategy

• Schools Plus

• National Qualifications Framework

• Literacy and Numeracy strategy

Ka Hikitia

Strategic Intent: to accelerate Māori success in schools

What makes a difference for Māori Learners?• Participating in early childhood education• Strong literacy foundations at home and school• Whanau/students/provider partnerships that

support learning • Strong learning relationships between teachers

and students• Professional leaders

All young people are in education, skills, or structured learning, relevant to their needs and abilities, until the age of 18.

The goal

Why Schools Plus?

• Too many students leave school early with low or no qualifications

• 15 to 19 year olds have a comparatively low participation rate in education

• Low literacy and numeracy skills limit young people’s progress

What will it look like in schools? (1)

• All students will be motivated to stay at school and get the best qualifications they can

• Strong and consistent emphasis on literacy and numeracy

• Systems that identify and support students in difficulty early

What will it look like in schools? (2)

• Personalised education plans when the student starts secondary school

• Youth Apprenticeships Scheme in all secondary schools from 2011

• Schools supported to meet the

needs of all students

• Innovations such as flexible

timetabling, dual enrolment

In the workplace

• Young employees engaging in new learning opportunities

• Support for ongoing education through on-the-job learning or flexible work hours

• Support for employers to continue investing in young employees

In tertiary education or training• School leavers connected with tertiary

training or education• Students taking part in tertiary training or

education alongside schooling• Tertiary working with schools, iwi and

communities to ensure education and training is relevant, of high quality and meets needs

• Tertiary partnering with schools so students take up a range of opportunities and transition smoothly

For families, whānau, iwi and communities

Continue to:• encourage young people to have high

expectations and the confidence and ability to meet goals and make the most of opportunities

• be involved with young people’s education• be involved with working with schools to

develop plans for students• know about the options and understand the

pathways

Maintaining our successes

Meeting our challenges

NZFinland

Equity

Achieveme

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