Alwyn Poole
Began teaching in 1991. TBC, HBHS, St Cuths. Founded/led Mt Hobson MS–18 years. Co-founded SAMS and MSWA. Econs degree, Masters in Edn, tchg dip, post grad dip – sport.
Hugely privileged to be published in the Post (online and in-print) this week.
Despite the spin – the current government really has challenged few of the underlying issues... especially how we address development through pregnancy and the first five years of life – that are the absolute foundation to human development and education.
At the high school end of the school system, we have curriculum and qualifications being challenged but the minister, in a cabinet paper, noting that for marginalised young people things may get worse.
In the Post piece I point out that we provide a minimal level of funding for schools/students who face the most challenges... then... as a society, wonder why nothing changes and that we have a huge portion of NEETS and the biggest gaps in the OECD for achievers and non-achievers.
Some quotes from the piece: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360846427/tale-two-colleges-and-upside-down-equity-formula
Flaxmere College has an EQI of 564. This is the highest in New Zealand and means that they have the most ‘at risk’ students.
Flaxmere College receives $262,720 of marginal funding per year as the highest EQI school in NZ.
To provide perspective: this is a 2.14 per cent addition to the funding level any high school in New Zealand receives. It works out at less than five dollars per student per day.
The EQI funding for Flaxmere College to help their 280-plus students is much less than the minister of education’s salary and is 39 per cent of the secretary for education’s salary. Surely this is a highly skewed take on the value of any individual?
If EQI funding was effective – in a public school system that aims to lift all students – you would expect to see results a lot closer than below.
Is it any wonder that New Zealand’s gaps for those who achieve and those who do not are the highest in the OECD.
We must do better. The minister must do better. Caring only for the high profile schools – and engaging with them exclusively – does a huge disservice to our nation.
“Whatever you do for the least of these... ”
This article was originally published by Education – the Absolute Best Ways.
