New Zealand Education

Schools should reflect their communities if ‘the purpose of education is to prepare young people for the future’ (Claxton, 2008, p. vi), and to ‘facilitate the flow and experience of mana in the individual and in his/her community’ (Royal, 2007, p. 2). The ‘influences of society and culture on a childs development, is grounded in a particular society in a particular time’ (Drewery & Bird, 2004, p. 23) and this should be reflected in the culture of the classroom.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari taku toa he toa takitini.

So what does New Zealand future look like and what is the role of its schools?

In 2005 it was the New Zealand government’s intention and commitment to transform New Zealand into a 21st century knowledge society (Cartwright, 2005) The tide has turned and as the world continues down the path of economic reform where industrialisation is no longer the back bone of the economy, New Zealand must shift with the times. As our country develops and the world opens up to globalisation, not only are our communities shifting away from industrialisation to the knowledge era, the countries immigration policy and own indigenous peoples means our communities are fast becoming culturally diverse.

There is discussion around the impact that globalisation and the knowledge era may have on community especially communities that do not have access to basic survival needs let alone the tools needed to participate in and benefit from a global and knowledge economy (Au, 2005). There are calls for considerations around the disparity that may be created by the new eras and an argument that it is everyone’s right to a basic education. It has also been noted that perhaps the knowledge societies develop attitudes that are sel...

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...eacher should reflect in their classroom planning and culture the need for problem solving skills and risk taking. Teachers need to encourage innovation and proficiency in ICT as students must able to develop skills to participate in and use social networking efficiently and communicate on a global context. To achieve what education is set out to do and prepare active citizens for the uncertain demands of the future, the school should also become a complex diverse learning environment. Education needs to be about diversification and willingness for industries and career choices that are not yet known. Student will need to become ‘Fifty years ago the ticket up the economic ladder was content mastery of four or five subjects. Today it is the ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, use technology and be globally competent.’ (Hood, 2010)