Education
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New research showing the overwhelming majority of teachers believe in their ability to make a difference for kids has been welcomed by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“Several surveys have established a link between teachers’ self-belief and higher levels of student achievement and motivation so I am delighted that our teachers are confident in their ability,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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Provisional NCEA data showing student achievement is continuing to rise has been welcomed by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

“Education is more important than ever before and these results show more of our kids than ever are gaining the qualifications they need at school,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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As Christchurch’s new education network rises from the rubble, Education Minister Hekia Parata has praised all those involved in shepherding Christchurch’s kids through extremely difficult times.

“Despite the trauma of the 22 February 2011 earthquake and thousands of aftershocks, student achievement in the region has continued to rise. That’s a testament to the resilience, determination and hard work of students, parents, teachers, principals, boards and support staff,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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A $1.3 million redevelopment of Mulberry Grove School on Great Barrier Island was officially opened by Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today.

“This redevelopment was needed because the existing school buildings, situated next to the sea, contained significant asbestos and were impacted by age and the coastal environment,” says Ms Kaye.

“The old buildings had reached the end of their economic life and have been demolished and replaced, providing both the school and the local community with fantastic new facilities.

Nikki Kaye Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed an OECD study that has found New Zealand teachers are among the world’s most professional.

The Teaching and Learning International Study (TALIS) ranked New Zealand teachers fourth out of 35 participating countries, behind the Russian Federation, Estonia and Singapore.

“This is great news, and a real bouquet for our teachers,” says Ms Parata.

In New Zealand the study looked at more than 2800 Year 7-10 teachers and their principals at primary, intermediate and secondary schools.  

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The new $10.2 million Marshland School was officially opened in Christchurch today by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

The new school includes a block of four learning studios and a multi-purpose hall, library and community space. It also has three new playgrounds.

“Marshland School’s innovative learning environment will be an inspiring space for kids to learn in new and exciting ways,” says Ms Parata.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata has today officially opened the new $13.6 million Rāwhiti School in Christchurch.

Rawhiti School was a merger between Central New Brighton, North New Brighton and Freeville Schools and the new school buildings will accommodate up to 600 students. The new school includes six flexible learning studios and a multi-purpose hall, library and community space.

Hekia Parata Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata today launched a new initiative aimed at supporting at-risk students to stay and succeed at school.

Based in the wider Gisborne region, Year 9 Plus will assist some of the most at-risk young people by focussing the right support at the right time.

“Year 9 Plus will make sure that students who may previously have dropped out of school are supported to continue their education,” says Ms Parata.

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One of the capital’s oldest schools, Thorndon School in central Wellington, will undergo a $9 million redevelopment, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Thorndon School spans three centuries, having been first established in 1852.

“The redevelopment will see new teaching and administration blocks and a new library built at the school, which has experienced weathertightness issues with its current buildings,” says Ms Kaye.

Nikki Kaye Education
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A new initiative to boost the mānuka honey industry in Northland and provide educational and employment opportunities has been launched today at Northland College by Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell,  Education Minister Hekia Parata and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.

The Mānuka Planting Initiative at Northland College is part of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan which was launched this morning.

Te Ururoa Flavell Nathan Guy Hekia Parata Primary Industries Maori Development Education
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Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that all state and state-integrated schools have received upgrades to core on-site IT infrastructure, such as cabling and wiring, to enable them to access high-quality, high-speed internet for learning.

“This is great news for schools and students as the 2016 school year gets underway,” says Ms Kaye.

“The School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP) spanned 11 years and represents a $280 million investment in around 2,400 schools.

Nikki Kaye Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata has wished children and young people well as they prepare to pick up their school bags and head to school this week.

“I hope kids are feeling full of beans after the summer break and looking forward to the challenges of a new year. We’re expecting just over three-quarters of a million students to return to school or start school this week.

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The Government will invest $6 million in a new nine-classroom block at Khandallah School in Wellington, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This redevelopment will address structural and weathertightness issues in the school’s current main teaching block,” says Ms Kaye.

“The old eight-classroom block will be replaced by the new block, which will meet full innovative learning environment (ILE) standards and also accommodate projected roll growth.

Nikki Kaye Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata, together with Parliamentary Under-Secretary David Seymour, has terminated the agreement under which the Ngā Parirau Mātauranga Charitable Trust runs a partnership school at Whangaruru in Northland.

Ms Parata informed the trust of her decision on Tuesday.

“Significant progress has been made in addressing the governance and management issues that caused me to issue the Trust with a performance notice in February.

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Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata have congratulated the twelve New Zealanders who are recipients of New Year’s Honours for their services to education.

“I’d like to congratulate the 2016 recipients for the valuable contribution they’ve made to education in New Zealand and internationally,” Mr Joyce says. “It’s great to see some of the best being honoured for their services.”

Hekia Parata Steven Joyce Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Education
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Classes may have stopped but the Government’s investment means lots of building work will be happening in schools over the holidays, with around 100 significant projects of over $3 million each currently on the go, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“Christmas and New Year is an important time to undertake redevelopments because it enables the least disruption to students and teachers,” says Ms Kaye.

Nikki Kaye Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata has advised the Ngā Parirau Mātauranga Charitable Trust that she proposes to terminate the agreement under which it runs a partnership school at Whangaruru.

Ms Parata, who met with the board on Tuesday, says a specialist audit conducted in October shows the current board has made significant progress in addressing the governance and management issues that caused her to issue the trust with a performance notice in February.

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Education Minister Hekia Parata says she is delighted so many members of the public have taken the opportunity to have their say on the future of education.

When submissions on the proposed update of the Education Act closed last night 1814 submissions had been received.

Hekia Parata Education
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The Government will invest $12.3 million to redevelop two more Wellington schools, Newtown School and Ngaio School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

This follows last week’s announcement of an $8.5 million redevelopment of Kelburn Normal School in the capital.

“These two latest redevelopments will help address roll growth and a range of building and site issues, including weathertightness and structural strengthening, and will create exciting new innovative learning environments for students,” says Ms Kaye.

Nikki Kaye Education
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The Government intends to build and maintain six new schools around New Zealand using a public private partnership (PPP), Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“A public private procurement model is an innovative and proven way to spend taxpayer money efficiently,” says Ms Parata.

“It offers the significant advantage of having professional facilities managers take care of school property, freeing up schools to focus on teaching and learning.

Nikki Kaye Hekia Parata Education
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The Government will invest $8.5 million redeveloping Kelburn Normal School in Wellington, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This project will help address a range of building and site issues at the school, and create an exciting new learning environment for students,” says Ms Kaye.

“The school’s main teaching block, which is past its use-by date, will be demolished and replaced with a new two-storeyed building. The new block will be repositioned on the school site to free up space for hard courts and fields.

Nikki Kaye Education
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Education Minister Hekia Parata says six new research projects granted funding for the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative will benefits teachers and students for years to come.

Ms Parata has congratulated this year’s recipients of the fund, which has supported 125 high calibre projects since it began in 2003. 

“A lot of this research is focussed on improving outcomes for all students, no matter their backgrounds,” says Ms Parata.

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Education Minister Hekia Parata says parents, school boards, students and home-based early childhood education providers will all benefit from the increased flexibility proposed by the Education Legislation Bill, which had its first reading today.

Hekia Parata Education
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A new agreement with Microsoft will reduce IT complexity for schools and enhance access to the online world for students, enabling them to learn anywhere, any time and on any device, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

Ms Kaye announced the new agreement between the Ministry of Education and Microsoft during a visit to Lyall Bay School in Wellington this afternoon.

Nikki Kaye Education