Strategic direction

The Ministry is focused on ensuring the education system delivers on the Government’s key goals – better public services that deliver improved outcomes for all New Zealanders, and stronger economic growth for New Zealand.

The learner must be the central focus

The learner must be the focus of policy, funding and regulatory decisions to see improvements in the performance of the education system as a whole. Achieving education success requires ensuring that learners get the best possible start, experience high-quality teaching and have opportunities to attain qualifications that lead to positive employment outcomes.

View larger version of the learning pathway image [GIF; 29kb]

Participation in high-quality early childhood education sets a strong foundation for engagement and achievement in the early years of school. Evidence shows that high-quality early childhood education has positive longer-term impacts on education engagement and achievement into a child’s teenage years.

Early attainment of core skills such as literacy and numeracy is essential for learners to be able to engage in all areas of the curriculum. This is a key step on the pathway to attaining qualifications.

NCEA Level 2 or an equivalent qualification is considered the minimum qualification needed to engage in further education or the workplace.

Tertiary education and skills training must provide young New Zealanders with the skills and knowledge to actively participate in the economy and support innovation. This requires the education system to be more responsive to labour market needs and better aligned with economic growth goals.

Our strategic direction diagram shows the links between our priorities, education sector outcomes and targets, and the Government’s goals.

View a larger version of the strategic diagram [GIF; 116kb]