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Scott Simpson Coromandel MP |
A good, solid education is crucial to the futures of New Zealand's young people.
In our region, we're lucky to have dedicated teachers whose hard work shows their vocation is about far more than reading, writing and arithmetic.
We often hear good feedback about our schools through conversations with parents and caregivers.
But it's also rewarding to hear it from official sources; and that's what's happened at Katikati Primary School.
It's received top marks from the Education Review Office. ERO's review found Katikati Primary School students are having great successes in their learning.
And there's a high level of pastoral care, and a strong commitment by trustees and staff to student wellbeing at KKPS.
The school won't be reviewed again for four-five years, which indicates just how well it's doing right now. This is a big pat on the back for principal Andrea Nicholson and her staff, and the school's Board of Trustees lead by David Freeman – they all deserve an A-plus.
Technology in our classrooms
When we think about the future of education, technology is a major consideration. Times sure have changed since I was at school, taking down my lessons from the humble blackboard. These days, I'm amazed at how even very young children can confidently use tablet computers.
These children are known as ‘Digital Natives' – they've grown up surrounded by technology. There are so many things they can find out about, literally, at the push of a button.
This all seems incredible to those of us who remember life before the internet, but we must move with the times, as must our schools.
This is something our Ministry of Education has been looking into. It's released a report on the opportunities and challenges for our education system as a result of widespread and mobile internet access.
It sets out priorities for the use of technology, including creating modern learning environments that are vibrant and safe, investment in high-quality content and systems, and networks for sharing ideas.
The National Government recognises how important it is for our schools to be tech-savvy, and we're investing more than $700 million in their digital infrastructure.
With so much concern about the time our children spend in front of screens, and their safety on the internet, I'm reassured the Education Ministry is looking to the future.
We must learn to make the best and safest use of ever-changing technology to ensure our young people can go out in the world with 21st Century skills.