Perry Rush
Covid-19: Unvaccinated education staff asking for sick leave to avoid mandate
Primary principals have been dealing with a number of sick leave applications from unvaccinated teachers wanting leave from today until the end of the year.
The vaccine mandate is now in force and… Audio
Years 1 to 8 will return part-time to school
The Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, has just announced that Years 9 and 10 will return to school in Auckland and Waikato from November 17th - next Wednesday. Years 1 to 8 will return… Audio
Covid-19: Vaccine hesitant teachers testing principals
There are fears several thousand teachers are resisting the push for them to get vaccinated before November the 15th.
At the same time, many schools are struggling to figure out which exemption… Audio
Covid-19: Schools estimate thousands of vaccine-resistant staff
Principals estimate several thousand teachers are resisting the government's directive to get vaccinated before 15 November.
Some are presenting bogus exemption certificates and the Education… Audio
Covid-19: Principals' federation on school return timing
Auckland primary school children might get four to five weeks of school before the final bell rings for the year, depending on Covid-19 case numbers.
The Education Minister Chris Hipkins says primary… Audio
Education forges ahead under multiple levels
Schools remain at the heart of a lot of concern about the levels and steps of the covid response. To respond to Government announcement at 1PM and to talk about what teachers are facing on the ground… Audio
Covid-19: Education workers resign rather than face vaccination
The government is mandating a Covid-19 vaccination for people working in the education sector, and already a small number of teachers have said 'thanks but no thanks.'
New Zealand Principals'… Audio
Covid-19: Principals Federation calls for clarity on optional masks in schools
The Principals' Federation is calling for clarity on why masks are required indoors in public places but are optional in schools.
Students go back to school on Thursday and face coverings are… Audio
Covid-19: Fears for kids without decent internet in lockdown
Teachers fear young children with poor access to the internet could fall behind on their schooling, if the lockdown is extended.
Schools have provisions in place for longer-term remote learning, but… Audio
Parliament launches inquiry into truancy crisis
Parliament's launched an inquiry into the so-called truancy crisis. Official figures in May showed more than 60,000 students are classified as chronically absent, missing at least three days of school… Audio
Doctors, schools want more information about vaccine rollout
With the Covid-19 vaccine roll out fast approaching a critical ramp up phase, GPs, pharmacies and schools are urging the Government to detail how they will be involved.
A million doses of the Pfizer… Audio
To court - if schools forced to take violent students
School principals believe they can challenge Education Ministry decisions to enrol students with a history of violent or anti-social behaviour. The Principals' Federations has sent a legal opinion… Audio
IHC takes Education Ministry to court over disabled childrens' rights
The Minister of Education and his Ministry are being taken to court over the rights of intellectually disabled children to go to school.
The advocacy group IHC says the children are being… Audio
Important for children to learn about white privilege
The head of the Principals' Federation insists it is important for children to learn about white privilege at school. The ACT Party leader David Seymour says the government has covertly added white… Audio
Formalised review process needed for school exclusions - Perry Rush
The New Zealand Principals' Federation president, Perry Rush, is supportive of the implementation of a formalised review process to investigate school exclusions.
His comments come after… Audio
Not enough money going toward school maintenance say principals
There's not enough money being dedicated to keep ageing school blocks in good nick, say principals. That comes as hundreds of Hutt Valley High School students are being forced to study at home for… Audio
Principals' Federation gets legal advice on enrolling violent kids
A stoush over schools' ability to refuse to enrol violent children is taking a new turn.
The Principals Federation says it now has legal advice that suggests schools can refuse Education Ministry… Audio
Schools urged to monitor school bus safety
Some schools contracting their own bus services don't know it's up to them to monitor safety standards. Two years ago Auckland company Kiwi Coaches was found to have been running a dozen school buses… Audio
Principals Federation 'misunderstood' on call to resist violent student orders
The Principals Federation is disappointed by the reaction to its call for members to defy a directive that forces them to enrol students kicked out of other schools for violence.
Speaking to RNZ this… Audio
Principals Federation suggests members ignore directives to enrol violent students
The Principals Federation has advised its members to defy legally binding directives to enrol violent children who have been kicked out of other schools.
It says principals should consider refusing… Audio