NELP me TESNELP and TES

About the NELP and TES

The Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) and the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) set out the Government’s priorities for education that will ensure the success and wellbeing of all learners.

They are statutory documents issued under the Education and Training Act 2020 that direct government and education sector activities towards the actions that will make the biggest difference and ensuring that we are able to strengthen the education system to deliver successful outcomes for all ākonga | learners.

The NELP and TES priorities will help create education environments that are learner-centred, and where more of our learners, and especially more of our Māori and Pacific learners, are successful.

Therefore, they encourage all places of learning to focus on:

• ensuring that they are safe and inclusive and free from racism, discrimination, and bullying
• strengthening the quality of teaching our learners receive to give our learners the skills they need to succeed in education, work and life
• collaborating more with whānau, employers, industry and communities
• taking account of learners’ needs, identities, languages and cultures in their practice
• incorporating te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into everyday activities.

Accessible versions and translations

New Zealand Sign Language videos explaining each page of the NELP and TES 2020 resource pack are also available. 

Email web.channel@education.govt.nz

Objectives for education

In early 2018, the Government set out its objectives for the education work programme. These have been updated to encompass what New Zealanders told us was important to them.

The objectives for education set the context for the NELP and the TES and outline the things the Government will focus on to improve outcomes and wellbeing across the education system.

1. Learners at the centre – Learners with their whānau are at the centre of education.
2. Barrier-free access – Great education opportunities and outcomes are within reach for every learner.
3. Quality teaching and leadership – Quality teaching and leadership make the difference for learners and their whānau.
4. Future of learning and work – Learning that is relevant to the lives of New Zealanders today and throughout their lives.
5. World-class inclusive public education – New Zealand education is trusted and sustainable.

The NELP and TES share priorities which recognises that learners change and grow as they move through the education system and the education system needs to listen to them, adapt to their needs, and empower them to achieve their aspirations, whatever their age or stage of learning.

The priorities have been aligned to the Minister of Education’s objectives for education, which have been used to guide the Education Work Programme. There are 8 priorities in total, one of which is specific to the TES.

Much of the power for educational change sits with places of learning, developing educationally powerful connections and partnerships with ākonga | learners, whānau, Māori and Pacific and diverse ethnic communities.

From 2021, we will be supporting places of learning to incorporate the NELP priorities into their plans and practice over time. More information on implementing the NELP priorities will be available in the New Year.

Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) will need to show how they will have regard to the TES priorities in their investment plans.

The TEC’s investment plan guidance will be published very soon and will support TEOs to do this.

The priorities and actions for early learning, schooling and tertiary education can be found in the sector-specific downloads below:

How the priorities were developed

The priorities set out in the NELP and TES have come out of the collective work across the Education Work Programme, New Zealanders’ generosity in participating in Kōrero Mātauranga, targeted engagements and dedicated consultation on the draft strategies. What we heard during these engagements was used to inform the NELP and TES priorities. We heard that wellbeing, equity and inclusion are really important for ākonga | students and their family and whānau, but that the education system we have now is not delivering on this for everyone.

What we learned during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we heard from ākonga | students about their experiences during this time, has also contributed to these priorities, and has reinforced the importance of the issues addressed by the NELP and TES priorities.

Now, more than ever, it is important that the education system sharpens its focus on equity. Māori and Pacific ākonga | students, those from diverse ethnic communities, disabled people, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds already experience or risk poorer education and employment outcomes and are likely to be disproportionately affected by the labour market impacts of COVID-19. It is critical that the education system supports their success, and New Zealand’s economic recovery.

Implementing the NELP in early learning and schooling

The NELP is a set of 7 priorities designed to guide those who govern schools and kura (state, state-integrated and private), and can be used alongside their own local priorities, and in conjunction with delivering a rich local curriculum, to help every ākonga | students to progress and achieve their aspirations.

From 2021, we support places of learning to incorporate the NELP priorities into their plans and practice over time.

Private schools

Private schools must have regard to the NELP in the operation of their school and ensure that the school’s principal and staff have regard to the NELP when developing and delivering the curriculum.

NELP: planning and reporting

From 2021, we will be supporting places of learning to incorporate the NELP priorities into their plans and practice over time. More information on implementing the NELP priorities will be available in the new year.

Boards should have regard to the NELP when developing their planning and reporting documents, alongside the existing requirements of the National Education Goals (NEGs) and the National Administration Guidelines (NAGs).

Most schools and kura would have already written their 2021 charters or will have already consulted their communities on their 2021 priorities. While there may well be some crossover with some of the priorities in the NELP, there was never going to be any expectation that boards needed to have regard to the NELP in their 2021 charters.

If boards do want to align the NELP priorities with the NEGs and NAGs in their 2021 charters, or in any of their 2021 planning and reporting documents, separate actions are not needed.

From 1 January 2023, the new strategic planning and reporting framework was introduced, and the NEGs and the NAGs were removed. The new planning and reporting framework will require schools and kura to show how they’ve reflected the NELP in their 3-year strategic plans.

Schools’ 2022 charter can be treated as the board's first strategic plan whilst the regulations are confirmed over 2023. More support is available to schools between July-December 2023 to identify what good practice looks like. This is available for schools, whānau and communities.

School planning and reporting

Implementing the TES in tertiary education

The TES sets out the Government’s current and medium-term priorities, and long-term strategic direction for tertiary education. It is intended to address economic, social and environmental goals, and the development aspirations of Māori and other population groups. Tertiary education organisations are required to show how they have regard for the TES.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) must give effect to the TES, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) must have regard for the TES.

The TES sets out 8 priorities for the tertiary sector. It shows what actions the Government will take to support the implementation of the TES and sets out actions that tertiary education organisations can take to respond to the priorities.

The TEC have published investment plan guidance on their website.

Investment plan guidance – Tertiary Education Commission

What the Government is doing to support the NELP and the TES

The NELP and the TES are 2 of the key strategic components that will help to ensure the education system meets the needs of all ākonga in Aotearoa New Zealand, no matter who they are or where they come from.

The NELP and TES align with the main initiatives the Government is undertaking through the education work programme, including for example the reforms of the Tomorrow’s Schools system and of Vocational Education.

This matrix shows where key initiatives of the Education Work Programme have actions or commitments announced that will support places of learning in implementing the NELP or the TES in early learning, schooling, or tertiary education.