The establishment of Te Pukenga--New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, in 2019 was a result of the Review of Vocational Education (ROVE) undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand. ROVE was committed to hearing the voices of all stakeholders to ensure excellence for all New Zealanders in vocational education. Against the backdrop of this review,…

This review provides an overview of the literature related to inclusive education for students with autism/takiwatanga in Aotearoa. A search of peer-reviewed literature identified 49 potentially relevant publications; of these, 13 met the inclusionary criteria. The reviewed publications addressed issues of how best to achieve inclusive education…

This literature review investigates the perception of secondary teachers about their role of supporting and promoting students' mental health and whether teachers feel equipped to fulfil the requirements of this role. Analysis of 13 research articles published between 2008-2022 indicated that most secondary teachers, across five countries,…

This article provides a comprehensive literature review examining virtual learning in the Aotearoa New Zealand schools sector, with a specific focus on understanding and addressing the needs of Maori learners in these online environments. It begins by tracing the historical development of virtual learning in Aotearoa New Zealand -- from early…

Twice-exceptional (2e) students face many barriers to learning opportunities due to their combinations of giftedness and learning disabilities. If 2e students are referred to special education teachers such as resource teachers of learning and behaviour (RTLB), challenges may be encountered when RTLB lack knowledge of twice-exceptionality. This…

The goal of the Poutama Pounamu blended learning course is to promote contexts for change where equity, excellence, and belonging for Maori and all learners can be realised. In this article I share some key learnings from my own journey through this course. I reflect on my path towards honouring the Treaty of Waitangi, including the challenges I…

Approximately 15% of New Zealand children will experience a traumatic brain injury during their school years. Given that educators play an important role in facilitating the successful school re-entry and recovery of these students, it is paramount that educators have adequate knowledge of childhood traumatic brain injury. This study used an…

This report investigates students' perspectives on a sense of belonging, and the relationship between inclusive practices. It further considers the implications for Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) as they work in secondary schools to support inclusive teaching practice. The inquiry question, "How can RTLB effectively support…

As long ago as 1992, Greville Rumble was writing about the "competitive vulnerabilities" of single-mode distance teaching institutions [universities]. In the intervening years the challenges he described have only intensified, especially so as advancing information and communication technologies have enabled increasing numbers of…

The COVID 19 pandemic has disrupted education around the world. As the first shock passes, planning is taking place on two timescales: the short-term challenges in the return to school, and the challenges over the next 18-24 months as systems work to build resilience and adaptability for the future. This "Trends Shaping Education…

In New Zealand (NZ) and Japan, despite comprehensive national health and physical education (HPE) curriculums in schools, there continues to be significant health issues for children. A qualitative interpretative descriptive research method was used to compare how primary school teachers taught HPE in both countries. In NZ, there is some freedom…

These are the key findings from New Zealand Council for Educational Research's (NZCER's) latest survey of secondary schools, conducted in August and September 2018. In the 2018 survey responses, there was a general theme of growing demands being made on schools to respond to increasingly complex needs of students. Teachers were feeling…

The key competencies are a potentially transformative feature of the New Zealand Curriculum. However, the way in which they have been understood and implemented in schools points to tensions and challenges that may prevent them from acting as agents of curriculum change. One recent researcher/practitioner partnership developed materials that show…

This research article reports on the experience of a special needs unit within an Aotearoa/New Zealand high school during a period of inclusive change. The study of the special needs unit represented a case study within a larger year-long qualitative study of the school experience. Utilizing the Index for Inclusion: Developing learning and…

This case study of New Zealand teachers' thinking and learning focuses on the relationship between theory and practice for teachers who become agents of change in their contexts, improving teaching and learning for students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. We rewrote an assignment for the primary and secondary teachers who taught…