July 2008
This_months_webpage.GIF (953 bytes)
Professional standards needed to raise NZ educational achievement
eBay auction inspires not-so-crazy education investment idea
Universal student allowance 'too high a cost'
Ireland follows UK, Canada and Australia on PPP path
UK university earnings from industry grow dramatically
British political parties unite behind academy schools
Quote of the month
Norman LaRocque moves to Asian Development Bank
Boost skills by giving industry 'more say' over funding decisions
Low-skilled job pay rates drop, skilled rates climb
Teacher shortages 'looming'
Surge in foreign teachers
Parties' ECE policies analysed
UK plan for university links with primary schools
Free university sector and let fees rise, argue British peers
French university first to raise private funding
OECD recommends policies to improve education results
Indian government readies PPP model for secondary education
India most privatised country for education
Test scores on rise since No Child Left Behind Act (2002)
Regulatory context for private education considered
Report looks at ways to reward teachers for performance
Private universities on increase in United States
US universities best resourced
EMO schools do better than others
World's 'most independent' university in Saudi Arabia
 
 

Election year: minor party profile – United Future

Continuing our series on minor parties' education policies, this month United Future unveiled their policy.

The policy includes a universal student allowance; extending 20 free hours to teacher-led centres; and solving the achievement gap between male and female students as some key items.

United Future also wants some specific changes to the NCEA:

  • A minimum number of externally assessed standards for each subject
  • Initiatives to stop boys falling behind girls in achievement and completion rates
  • Consistent policies across schools for internal and external reassessment
  • A review of the three achievement grades to get more graduated grading.

United Future also supports raising the school leaving age and for year 12 and 13 students and giving them more trade training options and tertiary education opportunities while at school.

Other key education policies include:

  • Increased funding and quality programmes for children with special needs and disabilities
  • Piloting the use of early childhood education centres as contact points for family support services
  • Funding school support staff salaries separately from general operations grants, and improving funding for ICT
  • More management units to primary schools to reflect the extra responsibilities of many teachers. This will also help develop leadership skills amongst teachers.

Further information is at this web page.