Under-18s to stay in education

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced that all under 18 year olds will be having some form of education or training from 2004. Those students who are leaving school will have to either go into other training or if they took up a job would have to do that in conjuction with an apprenticeship or qualification.

"Senior secondary schooling will be transformed so that staying at school, gaining relevant qualifications, and building on qualifications beyond school, will become the accepted norm over time," Clark says.

Source: NZPA

New Zealand Government's Education Bill to improve Safety and Accountability

source: scoop.co.nz

The Education Amendment Bill states that to improve student attendance and engagement to different school activities, safety measures will be implemented such as:

-Creation of an information programme that will allow a proper identification of teachers who are currently teaching without a current practising certificate or authorisation for the benefits of the students to ensure proper education and good guidance.

-The Bill removes early leaving provisions for 15 year old to signal the importance of staying at school.

-Also indicates that this new Bill will provide a greater clarity to school boards of trustees on their roles, and to increase their flexibility around timing of board elections, establishment boards and alternative board constitutions.

-Technical amendments that will affect special education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority is also included in this Bill.

-Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Education said “Together these measures serve to strengthen the education system for all students and give them the opportunity to realise their full potential.”