Introduction: Secretary for Education

This Statement of Intent sets out how the ministry will deliver education’s contribution to the implementation of government themes, and on key ministerial priorities for education.

To do this the ministry has set an overarching outcome of building a world-leading education system that equips all New Zealanders with the knowledge, skills and values to be successful citizens in the 21st century.

To achieve this we are focused on three paths. On the first path we focus on key areas where significant improvements in presence, engagement and achievement are needed in early childhood education and schooling, and where improvements in quality and relevance are needed in tertiary education.

On the second path we will develop the key features of personalising learning that will support the system to deliver educational innovation and change.

On the third path the ministry will lead and support change to ensure that the education system values, respects and is successful for all children and young people, in particular Māori, Pasifika and students with special education needs.

All three paths have significant challenges and require change across the education sector and within the ministry itself.

The challenge of equity

Our education system is good – the best in New Zealand is as good as anything in the world. However, at present we have a group of students, many of whom are Māori, Pasifika or who have special education needs, who are not succeeding and for whom the system is not delivering. All New Zealand’s children are entitled to the best education and we cannot be tolerant of failure where it affects the education of New Zealand’s children and young people.

The challenge of urgency

To provide the best education for all we need to develop in the sector and within the ministry a sense of urgency in dealing with the challenges we face.

We already have a number of initiatives in place that are focused on raising achievement. The challenge now is to pull all these together into a coherent whole and develop a sense of priority, with the ministry providing clear leadership with the sector alongside.

For each specific area of focus we have set targets and identified critical areas on which the ministry will concentrate effort and resources to bring about change.

The challenge of 21st century learning

For success in the 21st century New Zealanders will need to develop the critical lifelong learning and thinking skills needed in the knowledge era. For this to happen, our education system will need to change. We will need changes not only to what we learn, but also to the way we learn.

We need an education system that is flexible enough to respond to and reflect the aspirations and the needs of the students, not to squeeze them to fit the demands of the system. The system itself must be creative and innovative in order to encourage and value creativity and innovation in all students.

Developing an understanding of these changes and how to give effect to them is at the heart of our work on personalising learning.

The challenge of change

Our challenge is to ensure the ministry is ready and able to lead and support the sector and other government agencies to deliver on these priorities.

To do this the ministry needs to continue to become a more responsive, transparent and strongly outcomes focused organisation.

We want it to be clear what sort of education system the ministry stands for and want the ministry to be a high performing organisation known for its high standards, the high quality of its policy, services, relationships and responsiveness.

Karen Sewell
Secretary for Education