Education

The growing rift between educators and the Ministry of Education will be obvious as thousands of teachers and parents take to New Zealand streets on Saturday to save Kiwis' quality public education system.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is considering a return to basic arithmetic for primary school children in an attempt to lift New Zealand's faltering performance in maths.

''Basically an aftershock of the earthquake.''

Otago principals are on edge after documents show the Treasury has indicated a preference for bulk funding in New Zealand schools.

The Otago Primary Principals' Association says the Government is to blame for an Education Review Office report which criticises many primary schools around the country for not being flexible enough in the provision of their maths curriculum.

Gregory Cook has won many awards for medical research during the past two decades, but says the one he received this week at the Otago School of Medical Sciences annual awards ceremony takes the cake.

The Government is likely to stick with the troubled Novopay payroll system, but warned today that the next pay cycle could bring the worst problems yet.

Does the education system really need another major overhaul? David McKenzie, of Dunedin, urges a more cautious approach.

Self-managing schools should not have to stand alone, argues Dr Cathy Wylie, from the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

More than 1000 Otago primary school teachers and principals have pledged to fight a GERM affecting the education system by signing a petition yesterday.