A drop in the number of school students being suspended, stood-down, excluded and expelled has been welcomed by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“The numbers are the lowest since record-keeping began 15 years ago and have fallen sharply since 2008,” says Ms Parata.

The Student Engagement information shows that since 2008 the number of suspensions in state and state-integrated schools has fallen by 38 per cent to 2,692.

“This means more students are spending more time at school, laying the foundations for future success,” says Ms Parata.

Students at Auckland’s Mt Albert Primary School are set for a lift in learning thanks to the opening of a  new classroom block, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

The new modern teaching spaces for staff and students at the school will support raised achievement and provide room for future roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

The Education Minister opened the 10 classroom, two-storey block today.

Auckland is to host a major international education event in November, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Senior decision makers from education systems in at least 10 countries will  gather in the city for the next Global Education Leaders’ Partnership (GELP) event.

The Global Education Leaders’ Partnership brings together countries, academics, business leaders, philanthropists, educators and think tanks to focus on education system transformation, innovation and collaboration.

“Forty one projects have won funding worth a total of about $2.6 million in the first round of grants from the Teacher-Led Innovation Fund,” says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

The projects involve more than 80 schools as well as several early childhood centres.

The lifetime education award presented to Dr Adrienne Alton-Lee recognises a major contribution to raising educational achievement, says Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Ms Parata presented the Minister of Education’s Award for Lifetime Contribution to Raising Educational Achievement to Dr Alton-Lee at the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards in Wellington on Wednesday.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated Gisborne Boys’ High School on being chosen as the winner of the Supreme Award at the 2015 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards.

“The award recognises the school’s extraordinary success in defying stereotypes and transforming lives through a range of initiatives that enable boys to learn more about themselves and their culture,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced the make-up of the new teacher professional body, the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The council will be chaired by highly-regarded Auckland principal Barbara Ala’alatoa, and comprise eight other leading educationalists, all but one of whom emerged from an exhaustive public nomination process.

A further increase in the proportion of students achieving NCEA has been hailed by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Since provisional NCEA results were issued in January the percentage of students achieving the all-important NCEA Level 2 qualification has risen from 87.1 percent to 88.3 percent as a result of reconsiderations and reviews and the late reporting of results for internally-assessed standards.

Ms Parata says the proportion of students achieving NCEA Levels 1 and 3 has also risen.

“Today’s gazetting of the official start date for the Education Council (EDUCANZ) is another step along the path towards the creation of a trailblazing professional leadership body,” Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

The gazette notice confirms the Council will replace the New Zealand Teachers’ Council from 1 July 2015.

Ms Parata says the Education Council is the new professional and regulatory body for the teaching profession.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the development of new measures of educational success to be used for both internal and external evaluation of schools.

The indicators have been developed by the Education Review Office in conjunction with key academic experts and make use of evidence from high-performing schools. They are being trialled over the next few months and will be formally adopted by ERO from July next year.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed the update of a successful anti-bullying guide, which incorporates suggestions from schools and boards of trustees.

“The 2015 edition of Bullying prevention and response: A guide for schools will help schools prevent and respond to bullying to keep students safe and give them the best opportunities to learn,” says Ms Parata.

The Government is investing an extra $62.9 million of operating funding over the next four years to better assist children with special education needs to learn and achieve, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“We believe every child and young person in New Zealand should have the best possible education,” she says. “In the case of students with special needs, a strong education increases the chance of them becoming more independent and better able to participate in and contribute to the community.”

The Budget provides $373.9 million for school infrastructure, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say.

This includes $130.1 million operating funding over four years and the $243.8 million capital expenditure the Prime Minister announced last month for new schools, kura and classrooms.

“This spending is about securing and ensuring the safety of property and improving school infrastructure and services,” Ms Parata says.

Almost 6,000 of New Zealand’s most vulnerable students will benefit from an extra $8.2 million operating funding over the next four years for initiatives designed to increase their participation in the education system and lift achievement levels, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“The more at-risk young people who get a good start in education, and the longer they engage in education and training, the better it will be for them and for New Zealand. That’s why we’re focusing more educational resources on this group of young people.”

A Budget 2015 investment of $686.7 million will take total spending on early childhood, primary and secondary education in the coming year to $10.8 billion, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“Budget 2015 includes $442.9 million of operating funding over the next four years for education and $243.8 million of capital, reflecting the Government’s determination to help young New Zealanders achieve their potential.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says eleven entrants have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards.

The entrants include schools, early childhood centres and a tertiary institution. They come from both major centres and provincial towns.

“The awards, in just their second year, provide an opportunity to publicly recognise, celebrate and share the highly effective education practice we have in New Zealand and further lift the status of the teaching profession,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated Joshua Hansen on being awarded this year’s Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence.

The former Westlake Boys’ High School student was presented the award by Prime Minister John Key at the NZQA Top Scholar Award ceremony held at Parliament today.

“This award is presented annually to the New Zealand Scholarship student who showed the highest overall level of academic excellence,” says Ms Parata.

Highly-regarded educationalist and experienced school leader Prue Kelly, the former principal of Wellington High School, has been appointed to a key role overseeing appointments for new teacher and principal positions in Communities of Schools.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says Ms Kelly will chair the Investing in Educational Success New Appointments National Panel.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye are delighted that most schools in New Zealand have now signed up to use the government-funded Managed Network.

“More than 95% of schools have registered to use the Managed Network, which will give them fast, reliable internet and uncapped data,” says Ms Parata.

“This is about enabling schools to make the most of digital technologies, to give young people the skills and confidence they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say the signing of a $298 million contract for four more public private partnership (PPP) schools will see significant benefits for schools and taxpayers alike.

“The contract for the schools, which will be located in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, was signed this week with building consortium Future Schools Partners,” says Ms Parata.

Under a PPP, the private partner is responsible for designing, financing, building and maintaining the school property.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today officially opened Rolleston Christian School, located in the fastest growing Territorial Authority in New Zealand.

“Rolleston Christian School will relieve the pressure on existing schools in the urban area and will offer parents the option to send their children to a school that fits with their philosophical and religious beliefs,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an increase in the proportion of Māori and Pasifika children participating in early childhood education (ECE) before starting school.