Stories by John Gerritsen
News
Teachers vote no confidence in Teaching Council over fee increase
Anger at a jump in registration fees has prompted secondary teachers to vote no confidence in their own professional body, the Teaching Council.
Some students fail to return to school post-lockdown
Principals say schools have no idea where some of their students have gone since the lockdown and the Education Ministry has stepped in to help.
Language schools plead for certainty over borders
English language schools are warning their $500 million industry is in a critical state because of dwindling student numbers.
Secondary school international students stuck in New Zealand
Travel restrictions are creating uncertainty for thousands of foreign school children who came to New Zealand for education and now cannot leave.
Deciles, zoning skewed by school choice for richer parents - ministry
School zones and school choice allow rich schools to skim the best students from poorer communities, concentrating disadvantage in some schools, a Ministry study has found.
Back to school after lockdown: 80 percent of children return to classes with hygiene rules
Hundreds of thousands of children returned to school and early learning today, squirting litres of hand sanitiser and putting carefully-developed hygiene plans to the test. Video
Education Ministry warns truancy rates may rise post-lockdown
Teachers and principals are bracing themselves for all manner of reactions when 800,000 school children return to class today for the first time in eight weeks.
Budget 2020: Trades training gets $1.6bn boost
Trade training gets a $1.6 billion Budget boost aimed at trainees and their employers.
Bullrush, assemblies, drinking fountains: Schools prepare for level 2
Principals are pondering how to handle things as they prepare to reopen schools under alert level two on Monday.
School in level 2 in some ways 'like starting the year again'
Timetable changes, zoom meetings and a lot more hand washing will be features of the new-look schooling awaiting more than 800,000 children and teachers under alert level 2.
Educators call for urgent clarity on level 2 conditions
Education leaders by turns slammed and praised the Education Ministry's response to the Covid-19 pandemic at Parliament's Epidemic Response Committee today.
Foreign student numbers fall sharply, immigration stats show
Immigration New Zealand figures show the number of foreign students in the country has fallen sharply in the past six weeks.
Victoria University considers 20% pay cuts over Covid-19 losses
Victoria University is considering slashing staff pay by a fifth or moving them to a four-day week to help it cope with a forecast $50m drop in income, while Lincoln University is asking staff for a 5… Audio
Covid-19: Schools expecting few students at reopening
From what families have told schools, only a few children will return when they partially reopen next week.
Many early childhood centres likely to remain shut at level 3
Health fears and lack of demand are likely to keep many early childhood centres shut when schools partially reopen next week.
Covid-19: Government reassures teachers, parents over school reopening
School playgrounds will be off limits and children will be kept in bubbles of no more than 10 when schools partially reopen next week.
ECE services wary of level 3 reopening
Early childhood services want more evidence it will be safe to reopen next week and some are likely to remain closed. Audio
Principals warn students could fall behind with remote learning
Secondary principals are worried students from poor families and those studying practical subjects are falling behind as they contemplate several more weeks of remote learning. Audio
'It's going to be a shambles': Principals concerned over level 3 reopening
Principals are warning the government's plans for partially reopening schools at alert level 3 will run into problems.
'We're just realistic about what children can or can't do at home'
Kitchen tables, living rooms and bedrooms were converted into classrooms today as 800,000 children went back to school without leaving their homes.
Distance learning begins as pupils reconnect with teachers
The second school term starts today, with more than 800,000 teachers and students starting two weeks of remote learning.
Students struggling during lockdown 'ringing up in panic'
Tertiary students are hoping a promised government package will help students struggling to pay for essentials like food and power because of the lockdown.
Covid-19: Longer lockdown could harm education - principals
The government's education lockdown package will help when schools resume teaching next week, but a prolonged shut down would cause problems, principals say. Audio
Foreign students worry about families and passing their courses
Foreign student leaders warn 60,000 international students here need support - they're a long way from home, worried about families, study and work.
Some schools given permission to delay holidays
The Ministry of Education has granted some schools an exemption from starting the two-week school holidays on Monday.