Education plans outlined for immigration needs
It’s election year and the spotlight is being thrown on education. Reporter Rose Cawley sat down with Education Minister Hekia Parata on her visit to Pakuranga’s Edgewater College for an exclusive interview.
resources should go.’’
Ms Parata says from this year Public Achievement Information, including National Standards and NCEA results, will be used by the Education Review Office teams. ‘‘I have been strongly encouraging of ERO to do that because it helps demonstrate to schools the importance of using information.’’
She says it isn’t setting an unreachable bar for teachers, nor should it put additional pressure on them.
If National gets back into power there will be a further shake-up, with promises of a pay boost for top performers through the creation of four new positions – executive principals, expert teachers, lead teachers and change principals.
Ms Parata says the initiative will have a focus on a community as opposed to individual schools.
‘‘I can tell you what it is not going to be, it is not going to be an extra principal coming in to tell other principals what to do,’’ Ms Parata says.
‘‘It is specific challenges that a community of schools have that the executive principal will be focusing on and then working with the relevant principals and staff in that community to get the best collaboration.’’
Ms Parata expects to hear back from the working group about its suggestions for the four new roles by late next month.