Among the 24 state sector CEOs whose performance over the year had been reviewed, six were paid more, five were paid less and 13 stayed the same.

There is no new money to offer teachers a bigger pay increase unless they wanted to burden their students with a future of paying off national debt, says Prime Minister John Key.

The Ministry of Education says it will not dock the pay of secondary teachers striking this week as a show of good faith.

Anne Tolley says secondary school teachers striking over pay and conditions need to wake up to the economic reality of their situation.

More than 120,000 students will be asked to stay at home for a day this week after the teachers' union rejected what the Ministry of Education says is an 'excellent' pay offer.

As teachers reject the Govt's latest pay offer, the Education Minister says they simply don't have the kind of money being asked for.

Leading educationist Professor John Hattie has given a more glowing assessment of the education system than the Government often gives it.

A new national service looks ready to start next year to make sure every 16 or 17-year-old ends up in work or training after leaving school.

The Government will spend an additional $55 million over the next two years to meet demand for places at universities.

Anne Tolley yesterday told teachers she would be 'appalled' if they told parents their children were failing National Standards.