New Crown directors announced

New Crown directors announced:
Steven Joyce | Science and Innovation

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the appointment of three new Crown company directors.
Lizzie Chambers and Dr Barry O’Neil will join the Board of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd (trading as Scion) and Phil Norman will Join the Board of the Research and Education Advanced Network NZ Ltd (REANNZ).
“The new directors bring a valuable range of scientific knowledge, commercial skills and governance experience to their roles on the Scion and REANNZ boards” Mr Joyce says.
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New university & polytechnic council members appointed

New university & polytechnic council members appointed:
Steven Joyce | Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce today announced three new appointments to the councils of Massey University, the University of Waikato and the Nelson and Marlborough Institute of Technology.
Michael Ahie is appointed to the Massey University Council, Ian Fitzgerald is appointed to the University of Waikato Council and Gabrielle Hervey will join the council of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
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Principal set for new teaching challenge - Wanganui Chronicle

Principal set for new teaching challenge Wanganui Chronicle "I know there is pressure about National Standards and achieving, but for me it is about helping children learn and learn well." And the decile ratings of schools are just not true indicators, she said. "Look, it's a stigma. It always will be. I'm ...

Ombudsman to investigate Education Ministry's disclosure rules

RNZ, Morning report
Ombudsman to investigate Education Ministry's disclosure rules: Ombudsman Dr David McGee has criticised the Education Ministry for the way it has handled requests for information about its plans.
Original audio source (mnr-20121219-0815-ombudsman_to_investigate_education_ministrys_disclosure_rules-048.mp3)

Education Ministry 'acted wrongly' on info requests - Stuff.co.nz

Stuff.co.nz

Education Ministry 'acted wrongly' on info requests Stuff.co.nz "[Education Minister] Hekia Parata's handling of this process has been a debacle from start to finish. The people of Christchurch deserve better," he said. A spokesman said the ministry was taking steps to provide further OIA training for its ...

Labour says Education Minister avoiding public scrutiny

RNZ, Morning report
Labour says Education Minister avoiding public scrutiny: The Labour Party Christchurch schools spokesperson Chris Hipkins on lack of clarity around information about Christchurch school closures .
Original audio source (mnr-20121219-0721-labour_says_education_minister_avoiding_public_scrutiny-048.mp3)

Hekia's Report Card - Hipkins - Voxy

Hekia's Report Card - Hipkins Voxy An embarrassing effort. CHARTER SCHOOLS: This is a group project, and Hekia has been hamstrung by having to work with little Johnny Banks. There was no mandate for this experiment in privatised, profit-driven schooling, and no-one is convinced by the ...

Novopay frustrations reach boiling point

NZ Herald
Novopay frustrations reach boiling point: A Northland principal is calling for heads to roll at the Education Ministry as the Novopay debacle continues into the Christmas holiday period.The $30 million staff payroll system by Australian firm Talent2 has been causing headaches...

Novopay's latest botchup worth $7m - Stuff.co.nz

Novopay's latest botchup worth $7m Stuff.co.nz Three payroll administrators at Somerset Cres and Awatapu College, where Mr Coffin is also board chairman, told him they were undertaking an extra workload of about 60 hours a fortnight between them to deal with payroll issues. "They are under a huge ...

Special schools

RNZ. Nine to noon:
Special schools: Are special schools for children with intellectual disabilities better at teaching those children than mainstream schools? Dr Jude MacArthur is a researcher based in Dunedin, working in the area of education and disability for Massey University. Trish Grant is Director of Advocacy at IHC.
Original audio source (ntn-20121218-0927-special_schools-048.mp3)

New Attendance Service Will Keep More Learners In School - Scoop.co.nz (press release)

New Attendance Service Will Keep More Learners In School Scoop.co.nz (press release) New Attendance Service Will Keep More Learners In School. The Ministry of Education says a new expanded attendance service will help keep more students in school, learning and achieving. The new service begins in ... Operations, Katrina Casey confirmed ...

Education sector important for prosperity in Manawatu - Voxy

Education sector important for prosperity in Manawatū Voxy Secondary school University Entrance achievement levels in the region compare favourably with the New Zealand average. The profile also recognises education sector linkages with related sectors which are also contributing to greater prosperity in the ...

Ministry should restart consultation over Chch schools - Labour

RNZ. Morning report
Ministry should restart consultation over Chch schools - Labour: The education sector is demanding that Ministry of Education officials start their consultation with Christchurch schools again, after an Ombudsman's report criticised their handling of information about proposed school closures.
mnr-20121219-0719-ministry_should_restart_consultation_over_chch_schools_-_labour-048.mp3

School closure fears over repairs - New Zealand Herald

School closure fears over repairs New Zealand Herald The Ministry of Education said there were no plans to reorganise the network of 164 East Coast schools that have 50-year-old portable modular classrooms (PMCs) that need to be rebuilt by 2015. However, local principals say the same steps are being ...