School vandalism $11.2m budget top-up shocks
Damage to New Zealand schools from vandalism and graffiti has forced the Ministry of Education to top up school budgets by $11.2 million over the past five years.
Ministry of Education
Fewer interventions in Otago schools
Fewer interventions in Otago schools
Otago schools appear to be getting better at recognising potential education-harming issues and getting help before they require intervention by the Ministry of Education.
Teaching degree concerns
Teaching degree concerns
Government plans to raise graduating teachers to master's degree level have concerned an education specialist, who says it could bar fantastic would-be teachers from the profession.
Overseas pupils on rise
Overseas pupils on rise
The fall in international fee-paying (IFP) pupil numbers in Otago schools appears to be reversing, alleviating fears schools could suffer financial difficulty.
Care providers told to balance demographics
Care providers told to balance demographics
Education Minister Hekia Parata was unable to attend the New Zealand HomeBased Childcare Association's conference in Queenstown on Saturday, but through a representative she issued a challenge to delegates.
Helping Otago school-leavers discussed
Helping Otago school-leavers discussed
Raising the educational performance of Otago's youth and ensuring school-leavers find work were among the issues discussed at a Ministry of Education workshop held in Dunedin yesterday.
Assurance school publications safe
Assurance school publications safe
The Ministry of Education has assured schools they will continue to receive all publications and access to online resources following the closure of a major New Zealand education publishing company.
Novopay 'Black Out' protest
Novopay 'Black Out' protest
School staff across the country will be at work today dressed in black to mark what the Post Primary Teachers' Association is calling a ''Black Out Day'' for teachers nationally.
Former schools sold for $14 million
Former schools sold for $14 million
The Ministry of Education has chalked up more than $14 million from the sale of 53 former schools across the country in the past decade - and at least another 35 are still awaiting disposal or sale.
'Secretive' ministry criticised
'Secretive' ministry criticised
An investigation by the Ombudsman has slammed the Ministry of Education for not being transparent enough about its processes for establishing charter schools in New Zealand.
City schools safe for now
City schools safe for now
Pressure on the Ministry of Education to operate in a ''constrained fiscal environment'' appears to have abated in the past year.
Ministry deputy secretary resigns
Ministry deputy secretary resigns
The resignation of another high-level Ministry of Education official has been labelled ''appalling'' by the Otago Primary Principals' Association.
Ministry 'secretive' over interest
Ministry 'secretive' over interest
Otago principals are questioning why the Ministry of Education is being so ''secretive'' about the amount of interest being registered in establishing charter schools in the southern region.
Mixed reception for Budget's education provisions
Mixed reception for Budget's education provisions
Principal associations are divided over the Ministry of Education's plans to invest $80.5 million into lifting the educational achievement of young people.
Education issues ignite
Education issues ignite
The growing rift between educators and the Ministry of Education will be obvious as thousands of teachers and parents take to New Zealand streets on Saturday to save Kiwis' quality public education system.
Principals criticise school bus changes
Principals criticise school bus changes
A meeting held in Waitati on Saturday to discuss a shake-up of school bus services north of Dunedin became heated at times, as parents and principals expressed frustration with the Ministry of Education officials who attended.
Education funding matter of dispute
Education funding matter of dispute
The Ministry of Education has rejected the findings of a newly released report showing two out of three New Zealand secondary schools have reported a worse financial year in 2012 than 2011, and a quarter have dealt with deficits in the past three years.
Irreparable harm to children's bodies: expert
Irreparable harm to children's bodies: expert
A ''depressing lack'' of health prevention strategies in New Zealand schools is causing irreparable damage to children's bodies, which will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in the years to come, a musculoskeletal specialist says.
Intimidation complaints against principal upheld
Intimidation complaints against principal upheld
Complaints about intimidation, shouting and arguing with staff in front of school children by embattled Rotary Park School principal Carmel Casey have been upheld by the school's commissioner.
Fine risk over school payroll mess
Fine risk over school payroll mess
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has revealed the Ministry of Education could be fined for failing to pay school staff on time as a result of the bungled new Novopay payroll system.