Taumata Whanonga 2009: student behaviour summit

Media Release

Taumata Whanonga 2009

Ministry of Education deputy secretary Nicholas Pole has outlined a plan of action following a two-day behaviour summit at Te Papa in Wellington.

The Taumata Whanonga two day behaviour summit was organised by the New Zealand Principals Federation, Secondary Principals Association, New Zealand Education Institute, Post Primary Teachers Association, New Zealand School Trustees Association, Early Childhood Council, NZEI Principals Council, NZ Secondary Principals Council and the Ministry of Education.

The summit also involved principals, teachers, unions, government agencies, school boards, parents, police, early childhood services and community organisations.

“The summit was successful in terms of bringing together education leaders to address concerns about behaviour,” said Nicholas Pole.

“We acknowledged that there are no quick fixes and that these issues will require sustained commitment.”

The summit has identified priorities for action:

• Ownership of the issue and improve collaboration between families, communities, government agencies and schools.
• Early intervention – working with children in the early stages of life and in the first stages of things going wrong in their lives
• Initial teacher education and sustained teacher professional development to provide the skills required to manage extreme behaviour
• Stronger emphasis on getting it right for Maori students
• More support for successful evidence based programmes such as Incredible Years
• Share the evidence about what works.

“The summit steering group will be meeting regularly with other sector representatives over the next few weeks to work through the details of a comprehensive action plan, “ said Nicholas pole.

The plan will be presented to the Minister of Education Anne Tolley by the end of May.

ENDS

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