Microsoft is sponsoring Kiwi schools to train up the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg — but some teachers are uncomfortable with big corporates guiding the curriculum.

There will be less chance of dodgy teachers resurfacing at other schools under legislation to be introduced in Parliament today, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

Auckland Uni is at risk of slipping from a "storehouse of knowledge to a foreign warehouse" as it is increasingly catering for international students at the potential expense of NZers, says Shane Jones.

First there was planking, then Gangnam Style, now ... derp-face.

Finding the right school is not an easy task. There are many complications, not least the relevance of data available on each school, and ongoing debate about the value of the qualifications offered.

Twelve Kiwi students set off on Monday on a voyage to the Auckland Islands, south of New Zealand.

Labour has already given a conditional tick of approval to the Green Party's policy today aimed at low-decile schools, including free after school care and a free lunch.

Thousands of Kiwi parents have a new shopping dilemma this year - they will need to buy a tablet or other digital device for their child, writes Diana Clement.

Schools say they know who their top teachers are and have already put some of them in the "expert" roles just announced by the Govt.

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.

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.

Auckland has been ranked among the top cities in the world for students to pursue a university education.

The amalgamation of Auckland and the introduction of the Auckland Plan have focused attention on Auckland's diversity, structure and economy.

University students will start to sit exams online from their own home or office under a remote monitoring system being tested this year by Massey University.

Schools are illegally pressuring difficult students to leave and an independent authority needs to be set up to review expulsions and exclusions, a community law advocate says.

Schools are going through the "hurtful" process of choosing to drop religious instruction, with boards of trustees working through passionate arguments from parents on both sides of the debate.

New Zealand schools have less of a mix of rich and poor students than in the past, a new report shows.

Schools are bracing for the biggest changes to their funding in seven years, as officials measure how rich or poor their pupils' families are.

The Government's move to crack down on student loan defaulters, including arresting the worst offenders at the border, has been labelled "all stick and no carrot".

For most parents of primary-aged children, their school's sense of community, of "family", is vital.

Schoolkids are causing chaos on peak time Auckland buses, although officials say nothing can be done because refusing to take them would infringe students' rights.

The final "vocational pathways" have been launched in an effort to guide students into specific industries.

Mary Holms answers your finance questions.

"Have you ever wondered why Asians kids are doing so well in maths and science at schools?" asks George Lim.

Results from international tests which placed our Year 9 students at the bottom of the developed world in mathematics make for depressing reading.

Schoolchildren have got worse at basic arithmetic skills since the introduction of new teaching methods designed to lift the country's poor performance in maths.

Weekend Herald stories about how children learn maths at school have prompted a flood of responses from readers and experts. Andrew Laxon explains what the argument is about.

International students returning from China are being denied entry and having their visas cancelled because they have not made good progress on their courses.

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will be hit in the pocket by sweeping changes to student loan repayments on April 1.