New notices
July 2008
Implementation evaluation
Implementation of The New Zealand Curriculum is the subject of an intensive project called MECI (Monitoring and Evaluating Curriculum Implementation. The project is guided by the following conceptual framework:
- SUPPORT ENCOUNTERS – what people, web and publication supports are educators encountering and how valuable are they?
- RECEPTIVITY – do educators value the curriculum, feel that they are confident in implementing it and that it is feasible to do so?
- UNDERSTANDINGS – how do educators understand curriculum requirements and the changes that might be needed?
- PRACTICE – how is the NZC being implemented in schools/classrooms?
An important information source for the evaluation will be an online survey of principals, teachers and teacher educators.
Invitations will be sent after the July holidays to a random sample of schools, via email to the principal or school office. Principals who agree to participate will be asked to forward the invitation to their teachers. The first survey will be live between late July and early August.
The survey presents an opportunity for educators to reflect on curriculum implementation in their schools, and to gain access to reports that summarise their data across time and in comparison to national trends.
In the survey, principals and teachers will be asked about schools’ receptiveness to the curriculum, their progress in implementing it, their understanding of what it requires, and their views about support that has been offered.
The first survey will establish baseline data to be compared against results of further surveys in March and November 2009.
The surveys will be complemented by other evaluation methods including focus groups and interviews with selected teachers, principals and teacher educators.
GET INVOLVED
Educators interested in participating in the ‘touching base interviews’ should express their interest in an email to meci@auckland.ac.nz.
The project for the Ministry of Education is led by University of Auckland Faculty of Education researchers Drs Claire Sinnema and Graeme Aitken.
April 2008
Schools Plus
Schools Plus aims to ensure every young person is in education, skills, or structured learning, relevant to their needs and abilities, until the age of 18 years. This education or learning may take place in schools, tertiary organisations or in the workplace. The government wants young people to stay at school longer and to leave with higher level qualifications.
This policy will lead to significant changes in the schooling system and will require close collaboration with all those involved in the education, training, employment and support of young people.
Discussion
The first step in implementing Schools Plus is to discuss with New Zealanders what we need to do to achieve the Schools Plus goal.
On Monday 31 March an intensive two-month engagement process begins with the education sector, young people, their parents and families, whãnau, the wider community, employers, and other interested groups, on how best to implement Schools Plus.
The Schools Plus discussion document
The Schools Plus discussion document was launched recently by the Prime Minister and Minister of Education. The document will be widely distributed and can be downloaded from the Schools Plus website. Regional stakeholder meetings will also be held in a number of metropolitan and provincial centres.
Asia Knowledge
The Asia Knowledge website was launched on 1 April, 2008.
Asia Knowledge is a priority in The New Zealand Curriculum and therefore has official status as a context for integrated learning and as a context for the future-focused themes. Schools have the flexibility to design relevant and meaningful learning programmes to encourage students to become active and positive members of their local, national, and global communities. Learning about Asia is an important aspect of this.
February 2008
Teacher-Only Day - Implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum (English Medium)
Teacher-Only Day - Consultation for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Mãori medium)
The New Zealand Curriculum - What schools are required to do
The New Zealand Curriculum - National curriculum statements
Learning languages in the New Zealand Curriculum
The New Zealand Curriculum - Foundation curriculum policy statements
Teacher-Only Day - Implementation of the New Zealand Curriculum (English medium)
At the launch of NZ Curriculum on 6 November 2007, the Minister of Education, Hon Chris Carter announced a Teacher-Only Day will be offered to all state schools to support the implementation of the NZ Curriculum (English-medium) document.
A letter from the Minister about the Teacher-Only Day was sent to Principals and the Board Chairs on 25 January 2008.
Teacher-Only Day - Consultation for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Mãori medium)
Minister of Education, Hon Chris Carter and Associate Minister for Education, Hon Parekura Horomia have approved a Teacher-Only Day for the consultation of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa for all L1 & L2 Mãori immersion schools and settings. The Teacher-Only Day should be utilised during the consultation phase which ends 18 April 2008.
A letter from the Ministers about the Teacher-Only Day was sent to Principals and the Board Chairs on 25 January 2008.
The New Zealand Curriculum - what schools are required to do
The New Zealand Curriculum was launched last November. These notices were first published in the New Zealand Gazette on 26 January. They set out the government's expectations for schools with respect to The New Zealand Curriculum. In addition, there is a copy of the letter from Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Education to Dr Graham Stoop, the Chief Review Officer, setting out the expectations for schools and the Education Review Office during the next two years.
These notices are published here to provide schools with additional access to the information.
Dr Graham Stoop
Chief Review Officer
Education Review Office
Box 2799
Wellington
Dear Dr Stoop
As you will be aware I recently launched The New Zealand Curriculum and I will publish the enclosed notice in the New Zealand Gazette to give effect to its implementation from February 2010. I am writing to make clear the government's expectations of schools with respect to their curriculum development during the next two years.
Important aspects of The New Zealand Curriculum are that it is contained within a single document, and that it incorporates Principles, Values and Key Competencies across all learning areas. The notices in the New Zealand Gazette set out the expectations for Boards of Trustees.
My intention is that all state schools will base their teaching and learning programmes on The New Zealand Curriculum from the commencement of the 2010 academic year. During the transition period between the publication of the gazette notice and the implementation date, schools have the option of working with either the current curriculum documents, or the new ones, or both.
During 2008 and 2009, I would expect Boards of Trustees and school principals to be aware of the changes, to review their practice to consider what actions to take to meet the new requirements, and to progress towards fully basing their teaching and learning programmes on The New Zealand Curriculum by February 2010.
By that time, I will be able to advise you about related changes to the National Administration Guidelines, particularly those which refer to The New Zealand Curriculum.
I am aware, however, that schools are at different stages on the journey to fully implementing The New Zealand Curriculum. I would be interested in any evaluation of how well implementation is progressing, both in individual schools and at a national level, and to receive any recommendations for further action and improvement where necessary.
I would be grateful if you would convey these expectations to the managers of regional offices for the information of their teams of reviewers. I have asked that Ministry of Education officials be available to meet with your staff to brief them on the changes.
This letter to you will be published in the Education Gazette and on the Ministry of Education website for schools' information, along with a copy of the enclosed New Zealand Gazette notices.
Yours sincerely
Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education
The New Zealand Curriculum: National Curriculum Statements
Pursuant to section 60a of the Education Act 1989 (incorporating all amendments), the Minister of Education hereby publishes in The New Zealand Curriculum the national curriculum statements for:
The Arts
English
Health and Physical Education
Mathematics and Statistics
Science
Social Sciences
Technology.
State schools are to provide learning and teaching programmes based on the national curriculum statements in The New Zealand Curriculum from the commencement date of 2 February 2010.
The existing national curriculum statements, namely:
Mathematics in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 18 February 1993, No. 22, page 449
Science in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 17 November 1994, No. 121, page 3568
English in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 30 November 1995, No. 142, page 4635
Technology in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 4 February 1999, No. 16, page 364
Social Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 11 February 2000, No. 11, page 270
Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 13 December 2001, No. 170, page 4172
Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum - New Zealand Gazette, 18 December 2003, No. 173, page 4765
are hereby revoked with effect from 2 February 2010.
During the transition period between the publication of this notice and 2 February 2010, schools may base their programmes of study on either set of national curriculum statements, but should work towards full implementation of the new curriculum by 2 February 2010.
Copies of The New Zealand Curriculum can be obtained from Learning Media Limited, Box 3293, Wellington, and/or from the Ministry of Education's website at
Dated at Wellington this 12th day of November 2007.
Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Education.
Learning languages in the New Zealand Curriculum
There is a clear expectation from the Minister and Ministry of Education that schools with students in years 7–10 should be working towards including a quality second language programme when designing their school curriculum.
It is also expected that all New Zealand students will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge of te reo Māori me ona tikanga. This acknowledges New Zealand’s bicultural foundation.
Schools that are not currently in a position to offer a second language programme for their students in years 7–10 can access support to plan and begin a languages programme.
Read more information on resources and professional development opportunities.
The Ministry plans to review the wording of requirements for schools under the sections, The school curriculum: design and review and Requirements for boards of trustees, by 2010.
The New Zealand Curriculum: Foundation Curriculum Policy Statements
Pursuant to section 60a of the Education Act 1989 (incorporating all amendments), the Minister of Education hereby publishes foundation curriculum policy statements:
"Each Board of Trustees, through the principal and staff is required to develop and implement a curriculum for students in Y1-13 underpinned by the principles as expressed in The New Zealand Curriculum.
Each Board of Trustees, through the principal and staff is required to develop and implement a curriculum for students in Y1-13 in which the values as expressed in The New Zealand Curriculum are encouraged and modelled and are explored by students.
Each Board of Trustees, through the principal and staff is required to develop and implement a curriculum for students in Y1-13 that supports students to develop the five key competencies as expressed in The New Zealand Curriculum.
Each Board of Trustees, through the principal and staff must draw on the achievement objectives published in The New Zealand Curriculum to ensure that the progress and achievement of student learning throughout schooling is enabled; and tailor programmes to the learning needs and interests of the school's students."
State schools are to provide learning and teaching programmes underpinned by these foundation curriculum policy statements from the commencement date of 2 February 2010.
Copies of The New Zealand Curriculum can be obtained from Learning Media Limited, Box 3293, Wellington, and/or from the Ministry of Education's website at
Dated at Wellington this 12th day of November 2007.
Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Education.
