Stories by John Gerritsen
News
Workplace training may be privatised after Te Pūkenga dismantled
The Vocational Education Minister is planning the creation of six to eight Industry Skills Boards to set standards and oversee training.
Fears new teacher maths requirement will halve enrolments, worsen shortages
The LNAAT will become a pre-requisite for entry to one-year English-medium postgraduate programmes next year, and for multi-year programmes such as Bachelor's degrees in 2027. Audio
Job losses loom, as Ucol faces $7m budget cuts
Up to 74 jobs are on the block, about 17 percent of the institute's staff.
Overseas enrolment boosts number of people studying teaching
The enrolment increase has come just in time - the Education Ministry recently warned secondary schools in particular risk major teacher shortages.
'It's a backward step for education' - principal on plan to cut Kāhui Ako
Axing a $118 million scheme that provides extra pay for thousands of teachers is an "ill-considered decision", says one principal, but another says most school leaders in Auckland will back the move.
Government mulls axing $118m-a-year education scheme
A leaked report reveals the move to axe Kāhui Ako - which covers 2000 schools - would bring a high risk of a legal or industrial challenge. Audio
Students struggle with loan and allowance application delays
StudyLink has processed more applications than last year, but thousands remain uncompleted. Audio
Foreign student numbers back to pre-pandemic levels
Universities' lucrative international enrolments have rebounded close to pre-pandemic levels.
Union wants teacher aide in every classroom
The Educational Institute is calling for a $2.5 billion boost to support for children with disabilities.
Top marks for education authorities from minister
Erica Stanford says her main agencies have improved since she gave them dire satisfaction ratings last year.
Number of foreign students continues to rise
Foreign students contributed more than $3 billion to the New Zealand economy last year, MPs at a select committee have been told.
'Educational violence' - Lack of Te Mātaiaho in English curriculum slammed
The draft secondary school English curriculum is ringing alarm bells for some teachers.
Compulsory Shakespeare for students - to be, or not to be?
Missing from a controversial draft document was any reference to Te Mātaiaho. Audio
Will the $2.7b cost of tertiary courses be enough?
The government is spending $2.7 billion on tertiary courses this year, but there are early signs it will not be enough to cover all the enrolments. Audio
Principals stunned as ministry looks for new reading, maths tests
The Education Ministry has blindsided schools by going to market for a new national test. Audio
New reading, maths test could see schools unfairly ranked - expert
An assessment expert says it could lead to league tables.
Tertiary institutions 'should not assume funding will be maintained'
The Tertiary Education Commission has indicated some tertiary institutions could face funding cuts next year.
Report calls for a trades entrance qualification to rival University Entrance
Combined with other changes to school and post-school courses and funding, a new qualification could help double the number of school-leavers who opted for industry training and apprenticeships.
Enrolments increase at Otago University
The university had forecast a deficit last year following three years of falling enrolments.
School lunch provider turns to Australia for help
With its main food manufacturer, Libelle, in liquidation, the School Lunch Collective has turned to Australia to ensure it had enough meals. Audio
'Real shame' - Teens keen on trade training missing out
School careers advisors say schools and the qualification system were too focused on the 30 percent of teens who went to university.
'Worries right from the start': Original school lunch company offers to step in
The Wairarapa organisation lost contracts last year the School Lunch Collective, whose member company Libelle has gone into liquidation. Audio
School's optional $10,000 fee shocks parent
The fees, covering day students' use of facilities, has nearly doubled since 2020 Audio
The frustrated principal who wants school lunches
"Is the food going to the right people? These people that are so complaining, are they the ones that really need the food?" asks an intermediate principal.