Pat Newman

Northland schools are trying to hook truants back into class, by targeting their parents at the local chippy, among other things. Education Minister Jan Tinetti has today highlighted figures showing… Video, Audio

The government's wide-ranging school reforms have prompted a backlash from teachers and principals 

Groups including English teachers and Northland principals are urging the government to slow down.

Schools are hoping that thousands of absent children will return to class this month.

They say one in five students was absent last term and many stayed away due to fear of Covid-19, fear of… Audio

The Government is ploughing money into a bid to stop students skipping class.

The latest truancy figures paint a grim picture - 60,000 students are missing at least three days of school each… Audio

In one of New Zealand's most vaccine-hesitant regions, the vast majority of tamariki Māori haven't had a Covid-19 jab.

The Northland DHB is spending five-million dollars on campaigns against Covid… Audio

Panellists Heather Roy and Raf Manji discuss school preparedness in the face of omicron and calls for the minimum wage to increase amid rising living costs. Audio

Many schools and kura across the motu are starting back for the year today, but it won't be like anything they've faced before.

Staff are battling with how to enforce mask mandates and are dealing… Audio

A Northland education leader says it's unclear how many teachers remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 as a government mandate looms.

Monday is the last day for teachers and other school workers to… Audio

Principals are blaming conspiracy theories about the pandemic and economic turmoil for persistently low school attendance in Northland.

Education Ministry figures show average daily attendance in the… Audio

Northland principals have warned that conspiracy theories about the pandemic and economic turmoil are harming school attendance in Northland.

Education Ministry figures show average daily attendance… Audio

Principals are worried further lockdowns could harm children's education.

The government has warned that schools might not reopen as soon as the current shut down is over and it is preparing for all… Audio

Schools are figuring out what to do with the nearly $64 million they have received from the government's donation scheme.

A little over 1500 schools in deciles one to seven have signed up to the… Audio

Northland's low immunisation rates have left health officials scrambling to ensure it doesn't spread - and principals are being encouraged to exclude students who haven't had their jabs. Reporter Nita… Video, Audio

Northland schools face a massive headache with health officials calling for hundreds of unimmunised children to be banned from the region's schools for the next two weeks as they try to limit the risk… Audio

Submissions close shortly on the biggest shakeup to the education system in 30 years. An independent taskforce has made 32 recommendations - the most controversial of which, is setting up Education… Audio

A principal feels he can no longer protect children after he was at the centre of a four-month long police investigation for physically restraining an out-of-control boy in his class. The principal… Audio

School principals are dubious about research suggesting initiatives from countries including Bhutan and Peru can help New Zealand fight rising truancy. A report for the Ministry of Education says… Audio

Principals say teachers are worried about being hauled before the Education Council for handling disruptive children. Pat Newman says the guidelines leave grey areas. Audio