8. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What steps is the Government taking to ensure all young people achieve their potential and make a positive contribution to New Zealand’s economic transformation and social development?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
I recently received a report from the Ministry of Education that shows it is on track to halve the number of early leaving exemptions it will approve this year. In order to ensure that no young person is left behind, the Ministry of Education is working with Career Services to develop personalised learning and career plans for many of those who previously would have been allowed to leave school early. These plans will provide a rational and practical step to encourage students to remain in, and engaged with, school and further education.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
What else is the Government doing to ensure all young people are equipped for our 21st century economy and society?
As the Prime Minister told the Labour Party conference recently, attachment to and engagement in education is critical to equip young people to participate in New Zealand’s economic transformation. Our Government has introduced many innovative policies, like 20 hours’ free early childhood education, Young Apprenticeships, and Modern Apprenticeships, to keep young people engaged in learning. But there is more to come. For example, through the recently ratified secondary teachers’ collective agreement we have agreed to a project that looks at the future of secondary schooling, and our new curriculum enables teachers to equip their students with the skills and competencies they need in order to succeed in the 21st century.