News
Schools' fraud controls lacking, auditing expert warns
Schools are ignoring the rules that protect them from fraud and failing to report the crime when it happens, an accounting expert warns.
Big schools 'severely disadvantaged' in staffing ratios
Big secondary schools are feeling short-changed by the government's staffing system and they want it reviewed.
Why our kids are scoring poorly in tests
A declining love of reading and rising classroom disruption could be to blame for New Zealand's poor results in a major international test.
Integrated schools group explores legal options over funding exclusion
More than 300 integrated schools are challenging the government's decision to leave them out of its $400 million boost for maintenance.
Students 'a lot more active' after mobile phone ban
Students at an Auckland secondary school are rediscovering the joy of card games, lunch time play and the simple art of conversation thanks to a total ban on phones during the school day.
Education reforms: 'There could be huge implications'
There are early signs principals and teachers will support the biggest overhaul of the school system in 30 years.
Education overhaul: Schools will lose right to set enrolment zones
Schools will no longer have the right to manage their enrolment zones and there will be minimum standards for prospective principals under reforms announced by government.
Private school helping 70 students battle vaping addictions
A Waikato school is figuring out how to treat students addicted to nicotine through vaping, with symptoms that include anxiety, irritability and headaches.
Schools hiring 'teachers of last resort'
There's a forecasted shortfall of 1000 teachers in 2020 and some principals say because of that, they're hiring overseas teachers they would not normally consider.
Ministry wants to ban chips, saveloys and popcorn from ECE centres
A ban on some foods in early childhood centres is being considered because they pose a high choking risk. Audio
Parent reports forged signature at ECE centre
A parent is gutted the Ministry of Education has failed to find out who forged a signature on an attendance form for his son's early childhood centre.
'More and more children are taking up vaping' - Rotorua principal
Teenagers say vaping is addicting their friends to nicotine, and a Rotorua principal is urging the government to introduce tighter restrictions on vaping before the end of the year.
Principals expect crackdown on school charges
The government's school donation scheme has highlighted widespread abuse of the rules that govern what schools can charge parents for and principals are expecting a crack-down.
Teachers face longer wait times for police vetting
Teachers should plan on having to wait several months before they receive new practising certificates, as a fast processing deal has ended.
Donation dilemma for mid-decile schools
Some schools are facing a tough decision over the government's scheme to abolish donations in decile 1-7 schools.
Deaf Foundation blames earbuds, phones for teens' hearing loss
The National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing is alarmed by the rates of hearing loss it has found among 13 and 14-year-olds.
NZEI calls for immediate increase in pay for early childhood teachers
The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) wants an immediate 11 percent pay rise to help early childhood teachers close a big pay gap with kindergarten and school teachers.
NZQA considers axing entire diploma category
Significant and persistent quality problems centred on foreign students could see an entire class of qualification abolished.
Schools' decile rating to be replaced by new scoring method
School decile numbers will be dumped by 2022 at the latest and replaced by a new index based on indicators such as family income and transience between schools.
Apprenticeships could soon have same status as degrees and diplomas
Apprenticeships and trade certificates could soon be elevated to the same official status as university diplomas and degrees, industry training organisations say.
Primary schools unhappy with proposed staff cut
Primary schools are contesting the Ministry of Education's staffing estimates which they say will give them too few teachers next year.
Vaping 'a seductive product' for teens
Auckland secondary school principals are backing the government's plan to ban most vape flavours and say vaping is reaching epidemic levels among their students.
Auckland schools struggling to find teachers in 'dire' shortage
Auckland primary school principals are warning the city's long-running teacher shortage is as bad as ever, and they're worried about finding enough staff for next year.
Student alleges cheating, misbehaviour at Whitireia Polytechnic
A former international student has alleged that cheating and serious student misbehaviour occurred in an automotive course at Whitireia Polytechnic last year.
School disability services fall short of rising demand
The number of children with disabilities waiting for support from the Education Ministry has increased even though the ministry is helping more children than ever.