(November 2009) This response has been the subject of extensive consultation within PPTA. It has been discussed by the Professional Issues Advisory Committee, Professional Standing Committee, and the full Executive. We also sought the views of members and branches, and have collated their responses in preparing this response.

(June 2009)  In this submission, the Association will focus on two aspects of the Bill – information matching between the Teachers’ Council and the Ministry and to the changes proposed regarding appointments as Limited Statutory Manager or Commissioner to a school.

(July 2009)  PPTA does not intend to respond as an organisation to subject-specific changes in matrices or Level 1 standards, however we do wish to comment on the NCEA design proposals, in somewhat more detail than the electronic feedback form allows.  

(March 2009) The Association, by requirement of its constitution, has no members in private schools. Our interests are based on the second of our constitutional objects, to advance the causes of secondary education. We are aware that there is a flow of both students and teachers between the state and integrated sector and the private schools which means that there are consequential impacts on state schools from operations in the private school sector. In addition, we have a professional and societal interest in the educational outcomes of all secondary students.

(October 2008) PPTA supports the identified goals and actions, in principle, particularly the proposal to develop Kaikoura High School as a community college with a focus on tertiary options as well as traditional secondary-level ones.  We also support the objective of recruiting adult learners as well as teenagers.  As both the main political parties are proposing to expand programmes in the senior secondary/tertiary area (Schools Plus/Youth Guarantee), this decision is timely.  The goal in Outcome 5 which seeks to enhance connections with community organisations and activities, including the workplace, will be enhanced by a community college structure.

(November 2008) Earlier this year PPTA published its youth policy – Secondary Forward – which outlines many of the concerns we have for young people as they move through secondary school and into further education, training and employment. PPTA is concerned that government policies and initiatives do not take adequate account of the funding and expertise required to provide genuinely individualised, meaningful and appropriate pathways through schooling – students in alternative education sit at the extreme end of this spectrum...

(June 2008)    PPTA has just published Secondary Forward: PPTA youth policy, which sets out some of the history of PPTA’s concern regarding the interface between secondary education and work/tertiary education. In Secondary Forward we make a number of recommendations that are applicable to the Skills Strategy discussion, even though they were aimed more particularly at the Schools Plus initiative. There is overlap and the need for cohesion between these two initiatives.        Secondary Forward: PPTA youth policy (http://www.ppta.org.nz/index.php/resources/publications/doc_download/35-secondary-forward--ppta-youth-policy)