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New Zealand's biggest education reform in decades passes final reading

Xinhua, May 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

An education bill, considered as New Zealand's biggest reform to education in nearly 30 years, was passed on Thursday, providing the flexibility to respond to young people's current and future needs.

The passing of the third and final reading of the Education (Update) Amendment Bill was "a significant milestone for our education system," said Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

The Bill establishes a clear strategic direction for early childhood services and schools, focusing on the educational achievement and learning of children and young people.

"These priorities will make it clearer to our educators what success for students looks like. To move the education system from delivering education, to one focused on raising student achievement with clear accountabilities for all," said Kaye.

A new framework for online learning was included in the bill, reflecting the impact of digital technology on delivery of education and increasing education options available, she said.

An important amendment to the Bill prohibits the use of seclusion in schools and early childhood services, and creates a legislative framework for the appropriate use of physical restraint in schools, reassuring parents that education services are safe and inclusive, said Kaye.

One of the flexibilities that the Bill provides for is the choice for schools to introduce a policy for new entrants to start in a group at the beginning of each term, with some schools already encouraging children to start as part of a cohort on set days during the year.

"These schools believe cohort entry enables them to support better transitions to school, simplifies school and classroom planning, and minimizes disruption for existing students," she said, adding that parents will still have the option of not starting their child in school until their sixth birthday.

New Zealand's current system allows children to start on their 5th birthday, and requires consistent attendance only from the age of 6. Enditem