Stories by John Gerritsen

The Education Ministry has revealed it is planning for mega schools for up to 4500 students, with modelling suggesting there will be schools that big by 2043.

A population expert is warning that the record growth stretching Auckland schools could get even worse.

Auckland schools have recorded their fastest growth in more than a decade, with figures showing the region had more than 4000 more students than at the same time last year.

Government agencies have written to every foreign tertiary student in the country encouraging them to stay in New Zealand for the summer.

It's being suggested that introducing or altering 135 enrolment zones in Auckland could result in a lot less "white flight" from lower-decile schools.

A plan to introduce or amend 135 school enrolment zones in Auckland looks set to have a huge impact on where tens of thousands of children go to school. Audio

The Principals Federation made the proposal and polled its members during the past week because of dissatisfaction with the Educational Institute.

The pandemic has harmed NCEA results in Northland, Auckland and Tasman more than in other parts of the country.

The Education Ministry has so far allocated $14.9 million from a $50 million fund to help children struggling to return to school or early learning because of the pandemic.

The principal of decile one Windley School, Rhys McKinley, has no doubt his 300 pupils are better off after three years of the Labour-New Zealand First government.

More schools have signed up to the government's donation scheme for 2021 leaving just 99 eligible schools outside the scheme next year.

What difference has the fees-free policy made and what has been the response to the new national mega-polytechnic merger? RNZ's education correspondent John Gerritsen investigates.

Some students are urging the University of Auckland to hold end-of-year exams online rather than on campus.

The Principals' Federation is worried about a big change to the way the schools watchdog, the Education Review Office, monitors schools.

The Qualifications Authority said schools were cancelling or deferring some assessments, and principals say they hope students will catch up before the end of the year.

Low-decile schools fear the loss of hundreds of students, as some schools increase their out-of-zone enrolments to make up for the drop in foreign students.

Principals say conspiracy theories about the pandemic and economic turmoil are not helping the low school attendance in Northland.

Hundreds of student teachers will graduate with less practical experience than usual because the pandemic has disrupted their placements.

A group of private tertiary institutions wants foreign students studying online from overseas to remain eligible for New Zealand work permits when they graduate.

Hundreds of jobs are on the line as schools, universities and polytechnics start budgeting for 2021 without millions of dollars in foreign student fees.

Auckland secondary school principals are confident changes to the NCEA will ease the stress on their students - but they've got a warning, too.

An expert panel wants a $100 million boost to the government's $315m fund for research in tertiary institutions and a lot more money for Māori and Pasifika researchers.

Some secondary school principals want the government to change its alert level rules to ensure NCEA and Scholarship exams can go ahead during a lockdown. Audio

Some teenagers are warning the pandemic has ruined the school year and the most disadvantaged students are losing motivation and need more NCEA changes.

Some high-decile schools are facing shortfalls of many thousands of dollars from donations and fundraising because of the pandemic.