Education – Investing in education

As we enter Term Two, it’s essential to reflect on recent educational developments and how these continue to shape the schooling landscape for our youth.

Last year, the Government announced several changes, including a refreshed maths curriculum, and the prioritisation of structured literacy for 2025. This year, there is a call to review draft documents such as the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) framework, along with most recent announcements, the inclusion of Financial Education as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum. All of this is happening while schools remain focused on teaching and learning, and on maintaining strong, well-connected, and engaging environments for our students. The educational landscape remains busy and ever-evolving.

We’ve also seen some positive developments, such as the Government’s recent decision to cover the cost of teacher registration and practising certificate fees, saving teachers up to $550. This move has been widely welcomed, as it reinforces the message that New Zealand teachers are valued and offers a further incentive for many to stay in the profession.

Strong investment in the education sector is an investment in our future, our youth. For any community to flourish, it must be supported by strong, vibrant schools. That, in turn, requires a sustained focus on attracting, retaining, and supporting great teachers. While there have been various media stories highlighting government efforts to make justified cutbacks across society (some of which are necessary) we must be cautious about any reductions that compromise our investment towards our young people.

Our youth are growing up in particularly complex and challenging times. It is imperative that we all play a part in being their advocates; schools, policymakers, families, and communities. Not just for our own children, but for all youth.

At Ōrewa College, we are actively looking at ways to strengthen the triangular relationship between school, student, and whānau (family), with a focus on the holistic wellbeing and success of our rangatahi (youth). We’ve engaged in a strategic review with our community, and the appetite for deeper school-community connection has never been clearer.

As a result, on Tuesday May 20, we’re excited to be hosting a Parent/Community Information Night. This will provide families and community members with an opportunity to better understand and engage with the realities of teenage life, particularly around the impact of technology, social media platforms, device addiction and harm, and the many online challenges adolescents face. We aim to offer practical strategies that support positive, healthy habits in these areas.