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Overview
The Government’s vision for the education system is that every child is inspired and engaged in their learning so they can achieve to the best of their ability and gain the skills and qualifications that will support them into further study and employment.
This is why the Government’s targets, priorities, and related work programmes are focused on lifting student achievement and attendance.
To help schools and kura focus on the right things so that every child gets the opportunity to achieve to the best of their ability, the Government is proposing to clarify the obligations on school boards by amending section 127 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (the Act) to:
- make educational achievement the primary objective for school boards. The other objectives in section 127 will contribute to, and be necessary for, this primary objective
- introduce a new objective for school boards to take all reasonable steps to ensure the attendance of the students enrolled in their school
- introduce a new objective for schools to use good quality assessment and aromatawai information to monitor and evaluate students’ progress and achievement, including from any assessment and aromatawai specified in a foundation curriculum policy statement
- remove unnecessary references to relevant student rights set out in the Act, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the Human Rights Act 1993 (section 127(1)(b)(ii)). School boards already have to comply with the rights set out under these Acts. Note, we are not proposing to remove the objectives related to safety (section 127(1)(b)(i)), reducing forms of discrimination (section 127(1)(b)(iii)), and ensuring that the school is inclusive (section 127(1)(c)).
- re-order the Tiriti clause by moving the requirement that schools achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students (section 127(1)(d)(iii)) to the front of the Tiriti clause to increase its visibility. The intention is for the clause to require schools to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students, including by giving effect to the other requirements under this clause (section 127(1)(d)(i) which relates to tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori and section 127(1)(d)(ii)) which relates to making instruction available in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori.
- strengthen the focus on the national curriculum by replacing the term ‘local curriculum’ with ‘teaching and learning programmes’.
We also want to hear from you about the best way for schools to update their strategic plans to reflect any changes to the school board objectives. For example, the current strategic plans could be delayed by a year or schools could be asked to update them out of cycle.
Proposal to remove the NELP provisions from legislation
The Government is proposing to remove the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) from the Act and related regulations for early learning, primary and secondary education. This would mean that the Minister would not be able to issue a future NELP.
For the schooling sector
If you are a state or state-integrated school, this means you would no longer be required to consider the NELP when governing your school. More specifically this means you’ll no longer be required to have particular regard to a NELP when meeting your section 127 primary objectives. It also means you would no longer need to explain the link between your strategic goals and the NELP. If you are a private school, you would no longer have to have regard to a NELP when operating your school and developing the curriculum.
For the early learning sector
This means that you would no longer have to have regard to the NELP in your self-review and internal evaluation GMA6 and annual plan GMA8 for centre-based and GMA5 (self-review and internal evaluation) and GMA7 (annual plan) for home-based. If you wish to provide feedback using the survey on the NELP proposal only, you can skip to proposal 7 by clicking the next button at the bottom of the survey page. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected].
The current NELP document will remain in place until it expires in November 2025, unless it is superseded by the enactment of this proposal through a bill passed by Parliament.
We are seeking your feedback on these proposed changes.
Information about the consultation
Read more about section 127 which sets out the school board objectives.
Read more about section 5, which enables the Minister to issue a NELP.
Consultation document
Changes to school board objectives and removing the NELPWhat happens next
We are asking your views on the suggested changes discussed above to help us make better informed decisions about the obligations and strategic priorities for school boards.
After the consultation is finished, the Ministry of Education will collect and analyse your feedback.
Be assured that any feedback you provide will be confidential to those involved in analysing the consultation data and will be held securely in Ministry business systems. We will not identify any individuals in the final analysis or report writing unless you expressly give permission for this. However, submission, including submitters’ name, and documents associated with the consultation process may be subject to an Official Information Act 1982 request.
Find more information about the Official Information Act.
Making an official information request
If you have any more questions, wish to request a copy of your personal information, wish to correct your personal information, or withdraw your submission you can do so by emailing [email protected].
Have your say
You can make a submission on these proposals outlined in the consultation document by:
- filling out the consultation survey below
- emailing your feedback to [email protected].
You can also write to us at:
Education Consultation
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1666
Wellington 1640 New Zealand
