Victoria academics shaping the future of education
Victoria University’s Professor Carmen Dalli and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Professor Rawinia Higgins have been appointed to Government Advisory Groups that will help shape the future of education in New Zealand.
Professor Dalli has been appointed to chair a new Ministerial Advisory Group to develop a ten-year Strategic Plan for Early Learning. The Advisory Group’s aim is to give all children genuine opportunities for high quality early learning.
Professor Dalli says this is the biggest policy initiative for early childhood education and care since 2002. “Education Minister Chris Hipkins has already given a strong indication of what he wants to achieve—ensure 100 per cent of staff in teacher-led early childhood settings are qualified; improve quality of provisions for under-2-year-olds; and revitalise public education,” she says. “He also wants us to challenge conventional thinking”.
Victoria University’s Dean of Education Associate Professor David Crabbe says, “I am very pleased that the Government will be drawing on Professor Dalli’s expertise to lead the discussion on how to provide for early learning. We all know that the early years are critical in a child’s personal development towards becoming a happy and helpful member of society. As Director of our Institute for Early Childhood Studies and with considerable international reputation as a researcher and early childhood scholar, Professor Dalli will bring breadth and depth to this important social task.”
With the intention of “making our education system the best in the world”, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has appointed Professor Higgins to an advisory group led by Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft. “The group will connect the vision from the education summits and national conversation with the development and delivery of the Government’s strategic education work plan during 2018, which includes Tomorrow’s Schools and the NCEA Review,” says Minister Hipkins.
Dr Michael Johnston, also from Victoria’s Faculty of Education, is serving on two reference groups for the Education Review—one reviewing the NCEA and the other reviewing Curriculum Progress and Achievement.