As Chairman of the Education & Science Committee and as a parent, I understand the importance of ensuring that our children receive the best possible education.
Good education enables them to achieve the qualifications they need, unlock the potential in them and allow them to lead the type of life they desire.
Our National-led Government has placed an unrelenting focus on raising achievement for all Kiwi children. Our education system does well for four out of five of our children but we want to ensure that five out of five leave school with a quality education.
Last month, the Educational Amendment Bill was passed, amending the Education Act 1989 in two principal ways: The Bill sets up the legal framework for a new type of school, to be known as Partnership Schools (Kura Hourua), and establishes powers regarding surrender and retention of harmful items in schools.
New initiative
Partnership schools are just another strand in the cable of this Government’s efforts to lift student achievement, and provide a new approach to making the education system work for all young people, particularly for our most vulnerable children.
Partnership schools are targeted at lifting achievement in low decile areas and disadvantaged communities that have been underserved by the education system. These are groups such as Maori, Pasifika, low socio-economic and special needs children. It provides parents and students with another option when considering the type of education they want for their children.
Contractual tie
The fundamental difference between Partnership schools and State or State-integrated schools is that their relationship with the Minister will be contractual rather than regulatory.
Each school will be governed by a sponsor, who will be held to account by a fixed-term contract to deliver specific school-led targets negotiated with the Crown.
A contract must be in place before a school can open, and deliverable targets can be expected to include engagement and achievement outcomes. Sponsors will be free to negotiate employment conditions including salary levels with employees. They will have flexibility around school hours, student timetables, and term dates.
Schools will report against National Standards for Years 1-8, and offer Secondary qualifications, as agreed to in the contract, for Years 9-13. The number or percentage of registered teachers will be agreed to in the contract.
Unregistered teachers
Many unregistered teachers are already working in the education system and all are police vetted (Example, Early Childhood educators, tertiary educators, teachers of trade courses, and staff at Private Training Establishments. Unregistered teachers do not mean unqualified.
Partnership schools are just one of the many new approaches that we are taking to address educational underachievement, and ensure success.
I am relishing my role as Chairman of the Education & Science Select Committee as education is transformative and excellent education for all our children is essential for New Zealand’s future success.
Dr Cam Calder is Member of Parliament (Manurewa) on National List. The above article is exclusive to Indian Newslink.
