Kia ora

This fortnight I have decided to share some thoughts on two matters close to my heart, the future for our children and the growth and capability of our people.

You may well be aware that our current government has a large number of work streams underway to look at the future direction, focus and structure of our education system.  As part of one of these, the Ministry of Education met with a cross section of employers to seek their input into the redesign of the system. This included identifying what it is that employers want from education.

They identified these skills as the top 5 they want to see in potential employees now; adaptability, communication, literacy, critical thinking/problem solving and being drug free. Leaving aside whether ‘being drug free’ is actually a skill, it is an interesting list, in that it has a heavy slant towards what we may call soft skills.

They were then asked a follow up question, what skills do they see as essential in 2030? Bearing in mind this is only 11 years away. Therefore impacting on children who are at Shotover now. They came up with the following top 5, communication, curiosity, adaptability, creativity and initiative.

We have been told now for many years that it is teachers that have the most significant impact on a child’s learning when lined up with all the other variables, my experience knows this to be true. To my way of thinking if that is the case then the system must reflect that in how it spends it’s funds, that is how much it pays its most significant resource. 

Our current negotiation round seems to demonstrate a large gap in this understanding. You can only work on lifting the capability of people once you’ve got the salary structure at a fair and reasonable level. This is the first time I have spoken to this issue through the newsletter, however things are getting to a point of high frustration. Saying teachers are valued is rather hollow if its not followed by financial resource. I have also maintained and observed people and systems invest their wealth in things they value, in essence actions speak larger than words. Unfortunately in New Zealand we have a significant gap between the words and the actions. 

We know that you support the cause of teachers in this respect. If you’re wondering what you can do in a practical sense, then simply sending an email to our Ministers would be greatly appreciated: chris.hipkins@education.govt.nz, tracey.martin@education.govt.nz, kelvin.davis@education.govt.nz, jenny.salesa@education.govt.nz.

Political rant over.

A reminder that we are closed for a staff only day Friday week, 21st September. 

Må te wa

Ben Witheford

PRINCIAPL