Latest FromPrimary Education
![Editorial: Best teaching will require political will](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Editorial: Best teaching will require political will
Editorial: It is highly appropriate that NZ officials have been to Asia to identify the key points of the successful programmes there. But implementing their findings on what works will require political will.
![Dr Fiona Ell: Real issue is the gap, not rankings](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Dr Fiona Ell: Real issue is the gap, not rankings
Should we worry about our ranking? No, not per se, writes Dr Fiona Ell. Focusing on one number, one position in the race, who our neighbours on the list are is missing the point.
![Dr Sue Thomson: Oz education declining for a decade](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Dr Sue Thomson: Oz education declining for a decade
New international test results in reading, science and maths show that Australian education is going backwards - a declining trend that has been going on for the past decade, writes Dr Sue Thomson.
![NZ education standards falling - OECD](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
NZ education standards falling - OECD
New Zealand educational achievement has dropped significantly in the core subjects of science, maths and reading, according to a OECD report.
![NZ education facing a bad report](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
NZ education facing a bad report
Education Minister Hekia Parata is preparing for an embarrassing drop in New Zealand's education rankings in an international survey next week.
![Study raises Standards concerns](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Study raises Standards concerns
Primary and intermediate school teachers are being overworked and some subjects are prioritised at the expense of others, says a study into National Standards.
![$10.5m in extra school funding](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
$10.5m in extra school funding
The Government is providing $10.5 million in extra school funding to improve student achievement in maths and science.
![NZ: Top place to be a woman](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
NZ: Top place to be a woman
New Zealand is among the top 10 best places to be a woman, according to a worldwide report on gender equality.
![Schools cross the digital divide](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Schools cross the digital divide
Every New Zealand classroom will soon have access to digital devices - opening up huge learning opportunities, but also a risk of another "digital divide".
![Kids missing out on knowledge: expert](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Kids missing out on knowledge: expert
New Zealand's school curriculum has been hollowed out of knowledge as academic learning is increasingly abandoned for a misguided focus on skills and the process of learning, an academic claims.
![Play Truck helping children to learn](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Play Truck helping children to learn
Of the kids who start at Takanini School each year, only 20 per cent have had early childhood education experience.
![Zain Ali: Rail against school prayers hints at draconianism](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Zain Ali: Rail against school prayers hints at draconianism
Contrary to the claims of your columnist Rodney Hide last weekend, the self-described anti-theist, I don't believe prayer to be hocus-pocus.
![Peter Hughes appointed head of the Ministry of Education](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Peter Hughes appointed head of the Ministry of Education
Acting Secretary for Education Peter Hughes has been appointed head of the Ministry of Education.
![$5000 bonus for expert teachers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
$5000 bonus for expert teachers
A pay deal has been signed between the union representing primary and intermediate teachers and the Govt to introduce an allowance for 800 expert teachers worth $4 million.
![Toby Manhire: Leaked - Charter school for aspiring MPs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Toby Manhire: Leaked - Charter school for aspiring MPs
The report plans for the creation of a "Finishing School for New Zealand Political Aspirants - the Cabbage Boat Academy", writes Toby Manhire.
![Brush up on good habits](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Brush up on good habits
Anthony Harrison and Latoya Uerata were all smiles this week at Kelvin Rd School as the nationwide roll-out of free dental kits began.
![Return of bullrush defies mollycoddlers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Return of bullrush defies mollycoddlers
Bullrush and other potentially bruising activities are returning to play as research points to the long-term benefits of scraped knees and the odd broken bone.
![Hollywood helps kids to read](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Hollywood helps kids to read
School children are being taught how to read and write by watching Hollywood blockbusters with subtitles.
![Charter schools on track](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Charter schools on track
There won't be any changes to legislation around the controversial partnership schools despite opposition parties continuing their objections to elements of the bill.
![Heads back graduate teachers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Heads back graduate teachers
Backers of a controversial scheme to fast-track trainee teachers into classrooms are claiming initial success, with all 16 inaugural graduates passing their first three months as teachers.
![Education gets $80m funding boost](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Education gets $80m funding boost
The Government will invest $80.5 million of operating funding over four years to lift educational achievement, including funding for behaviour programmes.
![Kids' scooter injuries skyrocket](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Kids' scooter injuries skyrocket
The number of children seriously hurt while riding push scooters has skyrocketed with their popularity. More than 6000 under-14s were injured last year.
![Charter schools fall in](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Charter schools fall in
It's exam time for applicants hoping to run charter schools, the Act Party's competitive prod at state schools which are said to be failing too many Maori, Pacific and other "disadvantaged" kids.