Degrees - are they really worth it?
Recently, there has been a lot of debate around whether degrees - especially arts degrees - are really worth the cost. Here, Chris Whelan, Executive Director of Universities New Zealand, ponders the...
View ArticleImproving students' achievement
Getting all students to achieve better is crucial. What practical measures are being taken to reach this goal? Margaret McLachlan finds out.
View ArticleStemming the tide of teacher attrition
Attracting and retaining good teachers is vital to New Zealand's educational success. What's the best way of doing this - and what role does a principal's leadership play? Briar Edmonds finds out.
View ArticleEvery kid can achieve - making the education system work for all our children
A focus on clear roles, on improved systems for the Ministry and on leadership in the sector, along with new, collaborative programmes aimed to help the long 'tail' of underachieving students, have...
View ArticleBasic training - for life
When it comes to education, we don't normally think of the New Zealand Defence Force as a player. But the NZDF is doing a surprising amount to help young people fulfil their potential, as Kathy Ombler...
View ArticleERO: A Catalyst for change; A conversation with Iona Holsted
The Education Review Office (ERO) is one of a group of agencies that together act as stewards of New Zealand's education system. Its role is to advise government and the public about the quality of...
View ArticleOur changing climate: Is New Zealand keeping pace?
This year, 'Public Sector' will examine several 'wicked' problems that central and local government, research providers, non-governmental organisations, and communities are working to address. In this...
View ArticleEducation for everyone?
In New Zealand we like to believe we have an inclusive education system, one in which children with learning disabilities are not disadvantaged. But is our education system really that inclusive? Here,...
View ArticleA national education culture - who needs it?
New Zealanders spend a lot of time talking about education. But is there a real educational culture in this country? And what might the public service do to educate its employees? Columnist and former...
View ArticleJoined-up care
Like the rest of the world, New Zealand's demographic landscape is changing rapidly, which has implications for everything from the economy to social cohesion, education, and many other aspects of...
View ArticleA changing face: The implications of demographic change
What will we look like as a nation when we look in the collective mirror over the next 10, 20 or 30 years? And what might this mean for the public sector as it strives to serve the changing needs of...
View ArticleLearn, create, share
As New Zealand's population diversifies, the proportion of Maori and Pasifika people will grow. In the field of education these groups tend to have the most catching up to do and are a focus of...
View ArticleThe dark arts
I'm going to reflect, rather frustratingly I suspect, not on the intricacies of policy for an ageing population, but more on the challenges of getting a population of voters to see what they cannot...
View ArticleA tale of two cities
Demographic change affects all of us, but it is local government, arguably, which faces the greatest challenges. Here 'Public Sector' editor John O'Leary considers what two very different cities are...
View ArticleDealing with disparity
Demographic change/shift impacts on all areas of society. Here journalist and commentator Colin James looks ahead and considers what effects it may produce on national and local government politics.
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