South Korea the new destination for English teachers

South Korea is becoming a hot destination for New Zealanders wanting to teach English.
On the job section of the popular TradeMe website many of the teach-English-overseas opportunities are for South Korean schools.
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency business manager Kelly Kim says while the agency has only been involved in recruitment for a year, it has [...]

Maori and Pasifika students struggling with choices

As the number of Maori and Pacific Island students completing NCEA increases, there are concerns the subjects they choose aren’t the best for tertiary success.
Jacob Phillips (Ngapuhi) completed his level three NCEA studies in 2006 but had to sit level two literacy unit standards to gain university entrance.
Unfortunately for Jacob the unit standards were different [...]

Shortage of Montessori teachers in New Zealand

Despite an increasing number of Montessori schools being established across New Zealand, there is a shortage of teachers for them.
Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand executive officer Ana Pickering says Montessori early childhood schools have steadily increased.
“I think it will steadily keep growing. However our main worry is the number of teachers training in Montessori teachings.”
Since [...]

School-based service helps refugees settle in NZ

Refugees are being educated and guided in an Auckland programme that specifically helps families adjust to life in a new country.
Part of Selwyn College, Refugee Education for Adults and Families (REAF) is helping those who have experienced the trauma of being forced out of their own country.
REAF director Margaret Chittenden says 180 refugees from [...]

Knowledege of Maori culture invaluable

Maori educators at AUT University say there is great merit in students being exposed to Maori language and culture through noho marae (live-in) programmes.
They believe students acquire invaluable skills and learn to appreciate and develop a better understanding of Maori culture.
Te Wāhanga Reo coordinator at AUT Erana Foster, who is of Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti [...]

Boys need it ‘rich, real and relevant’ in the classroom

Principals are being encouraged to re-think how best to teach boys as they continue to fall behind in national education statistics.

The issue has become a major focus of Principals Digest, an online journal dedicated to keeping teachers up to date with education issues.

A 2007 Education Review Office report found boys learn better in structured lessons, [...]

School kapa haka – to credit or not to credit

Some New Zealand educators feel students who perform in major kapa haka competitions should be awarded NCEA credits for their efforts.
Last month around 8000 students took part in Pasifika and Polyfest in Auckland.
Some educators are arguing students learn discipline, organisation, leadership, social, language, time and self management skills – none of which are formally [...]

Curriculum changes bring school sustainability focus

Balmoral School is sowing the seeds of success.
Excited classes at the school took turns to plant the first crops in the school garden last Friday, with the help of the local Palmers garden centre and dedicated parents and staff.
Passionfruit climbers, lemon trees, onions, feijoa trees and swan plants were some of the first to be [...]

National assures low-decile funding

The National Party has hit back at criticism from the Government that it will not spend enough on low-decile schools and has vowed to match the Labour Party’s spending plans.
Mt Roskill Labour MP and Associate Finance Minister Phil Goff attacked National last week over its funding plans for low-decile schools.
Goff accused National’s finance spokesman Bill [...]