The Ministry of Education held their Education Summit in Christchurch 5-6 May at Horncastle Arena. Erolia Rooney and I were nominated to attend this conference: Erolia as a member of the Board of Trustees, a parent, and Pasifika representative, myself as a teacher involved with migrant and former refugees’ education, as well as a parent.

This conference was very different to any that I had previously attended as there was very little information beforehand so for a bunch of educators it was difficult to not have a detailed itinerary of the days’ events. After we were welcomed in the structure of the summit was explained. In the arena, there were six main hubs set up around the outside and each hub had write-on tables set up in small groups. You chose four hubs to attend in the two days. Topics of the hubs were such as: ways of teaching, ways of learning, how we learn, skills needed to contribute to New Zealand, how education expected to support learners as individuals and life-long learning. After you discussed your topic in your hub sub-group you went to different speakers, then came back to your group to report on what you found out. You then wrote your group’s ideas/answers to two questions which were stuck up on the walls for all to read. The summit wasn’t about specific policies but more about the values we want our learners to have.

Along with the six hubs, there were small libraries where you could discuss certain topics, old desks that had tablets in them for you to view videos on varying topics, a booth where you could have your say. Another important part was there were food stalls set up around the arena and you could eat whenever it suited you.

There were 800 very passionate about education people at this conference who were from the Wellington area and the South Island. The same conference was held the following weekend in Auckland with another 800 people. These people came from all areas of education, from early childhood to university, to community programmes, to special education and special character schools, students. It was a real opportunity for all to interact and discuss how we would like to see education in the future and what skills people will need to be successful contributors to New Zealand society. The main idea that I came away with was the importance of relationships with the learners and the community.

Here are comments from Erolia:

“The summit was quite an event. Even though, we were late due to Dunedin fog, it was quite an invigorating experience. The buzz in the room of - what do we need to change, why do we need to change, how can we change, to where to? The who's who were at the summit which gave me some confidence that there might be some positive outcomes. The different conversations to specific ideas. Wow.

As a parent, the coming together of the different levels of educations and all its interested parties, opened the board to acknowledging that the education change is from concept of a matariki to its adulthood and beyond. As an adult, we need to listen and to hear the voices of the young. As a Pasifika, we need to be part of the fabric for change. As a school community, we are in the forefront of care and strengthening. The main point asked by educators was resources availability and identity.

The conversation has now started about Education for the future. The Christchurch summit was the start. This weekend is the Auckland summit. There is also a survey, for ALL of our community to have a say: https://conversation.education.govt.nz/.

Our whole community from; staff, supporters, parents, girls and school partners, have the opportunity to make a decision about the future direction of Education. Make the time to have a say.

Ia manuia”

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Kindness - a selfless act.

The Ministry would like to hear the voices of all involved in education (teachers, teacher aides, support staff, students, parents, wider community) so please take a little time to complete their survey of four questions. This is the time for all of us to have our say on the future of New Zealand’s education.

Here are some links you can follow to find out more and to have your say.

Thanks also to those who’ve been promoting the online survey at conversation.education.govt.nz. There’s still room - and time - for many more responses. As of this morning, the online survey had been completed more than 8,500 times. It can be done in several languages.

We’re continuing to promote the Kōrero through social media using videos filmed at the Summit and videos filmed prior to the events with students, teachers and employers. Some of these videos are available on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/MinEducationNZ

If you haven’t been following the conversation online, you can view our posts on Facebook and Twitter or search the hashtag #EdConvo18 to find out what others are saying.