Posted by: Cynic
on Mar 10, 2010
Government funding cuts hit the Ministry of Education
First they shuffle the money out of PD into National Standards, and perhaps out of the Behaviour Action Plan/Special Education into Truancy action, now job losses.
Apparently this will mean the Ministry will be more efficient, and less bureaucratic
Possibly the same logic that says cuts to staffing in schools will allow schools more flexibility?
Posted by: blogger
on Dec 22, 2009
By Winged Rodent
At a time when the world focuses on the dangers of climate change, the government appears to be going green - by recycling its spending this Christmas.
We could see the $200 million 'budget' allocated to fighting truancy and crime among teens as a form of "up-cycling” – a term coined to describe "the creation of a product with higher intrinsic value from a material at the end of its service life."
In other words, it is taking an empty ice-cream container, covering it with glitter and calling it a present.
Posted by: PPTAweb
on Sep 24, 2009
Guarantee - limited time only – for a limited number of lucky applicants. Guaranteed that you can be part of an experiment that will provide you with a place in a tertiary institution that may or may not be of your choice, may or may not be in the area of training you thought you were interested in (but there are lots of hospitality and hairdressing options) and you may or may not have to turn up once selected for this opportunity.
Posted by: blogger
on Jun 22, 2009
By Winged Rodent
It's amazing how things change once you get elected.
Bill English is now brutally taking an axe to the night classes that, four years ago, he claimed gave a life-line to his own mother.
In a 2005 speech to CLASS (Community Learning Association through Schools) English used his Mum to illustrate a story about the important role community education played in society.
"I recall my mother going off to night-time classes in furniture restoration - a quite space in the busy life of a household of 12 children. There are a thousand stories about how human needs are met by the collective and aspirational activity of learning," he said.
English now plans to slash 80% of the funding to those same courses, leaving the remaining 20% to fund more ‘worthy' literacy and numeracy based classes.
But it gets better - in a 2006 press release he criticizes Labour for "destroying" night classes and argues they should be saved.
