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NiueFrom Researching Virtual Initiatives in EducationBy Paul Bacsich (Matic Media) for Re.ViCa and Tom Levec (ATiT) and Paul Bacsich (Sero) for VISCED. For entities in Niue see Category:Niue
Niue in a nutshellNiue is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the Rock of Polynesia, and natives of the island call it The Rock. Its capital is called Alofi. Though self governing, Niue is in free association with New Zealand, and thus lacks full sovereignty. Queen Elizabeth II is Niue's head of state. Most diplomatic relations are conducted by New Zealand on Niue's behalf. Niue is 2,400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. The people are predominantly Polynesian. The population of Niue is around 1,269 (July 2012 estimate according to the CIA's World Factbook). Its internet domain is .nu, for internet in Niue see for example http://internetniue.nu
Education in NiueSchool-level education(sourced from the WikiEducator article on Niue - http://www.wikieducator.org/Niue) Since Niue is a country with free association with New Zealand, Niueans are citizens of New Zealand and they enjoy the privileges of New Zealanders who live in New Zealand. The decision to utilise the New Zealand Curriculum in the Niue Schools was influenced by this factor. Niue follows the New Zealand curriculum from early years to Year 13. There are only two schools in Niue. One of these is a ECE/Primary School and the other a Secondary school. There are slightly over 200 students in each school and both schools are supported by their own administration staff. Each school is headed by a Principal and both Principals work under the leadership of the Director of Education.
Further and Higher educationMost of the students have to go to New Zealand or other regional institutions for further education, be it vocational or academic qualifications. Universities in CountryThere is a small administrative University of the South Pacific campus on Niue, but the number of EFTS is very small but out-migration has meant that there are very low enrolments in courses offered on Niue.
Education reformAdministration and financeNew Zealand Pacific Scholarships (NZPS)Up to 5 New Zealand Pacific Scholarships are available to Niuean applicants (who are New Zealand citizens) for undergraduate study. This includes the Niue High School Dux Scholarship recipient. These scholarships are only for study at one of the ten eligible New Zealand education institutions located in New Zealand.
New Zealand Regional Development Scholarships (NZRDS)Up to 2 scholarships are available to Niuean applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate study. New Zealand Regional Development Scholarships are for study at a Pacific regional institution.
Quality assuranceNiue High School is assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA, which published the school's Managing National Assessment in 2010: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/details.do?providerId=501216001. Information societyICT in education initiativesWikipedia reports that:
Young primary school level children are also introduced to the computers at the Year 4 level. The program at Niue Primary is integrated into the Technology Program. Niue Primary School has the following equipment:
ICT initiatives in Niue High School has been going on for a very long period. Niue High School has many student computers for ICT classes and all computers have CD burners and have access to the internet. They own digital cameras, 1 video camera, 2 video recorders, 1 DVD player, 1 TV screen, Teacher's personal laptops, 2 stereos, 1 scanner, 1 fax machine, 1 external modem, internal modems for all computers that have internet access, pen drives/flash discs, CDs and DVDs for students information, Zip drives and external hard drives, two black and white photocopiers. Both teachers and students have access to the Internet, as a result of special effort at the beginning of 2004 to improve Internet access for students and teachers. There are only two schools in Niue and both are offering some form of ICT courses to the students. The course outlines used closely follow the New Zealand Technology curriculum document. All other subject areas require the use of the computer with Internet connection in order to access information available through the net from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. This includes access to Unit Standards and Achievement Standards as well as assessment exemplars for students’ assessment activities. Information Technology is offered as a half-year course to students of Years 7, 8 and 9 (Forms 1, 2 and 3). The students are introduced to the basic ways of using the computer but the emphasis is on keyboard skills. At the Year 10 (Form 4) level, students may opt to continue to take IT or choose to take up other subjects. Over the years it has always been a problem meeting the high demand from students who wish to continue taking the subject. Students in years 7, 8 and 9 are allocated two hours of IT per week for two terms. Each term is about 9 or 10 weeks. Supporting services for the maintenance of computers are always provided by the computer experts from the main office of the Department of Administrative Services. The Niue High School IT teacher assists in maintaining the equipment, but major faults are dealt with by personnel from the Administrative Services, so that the IT teacher is not interrupted in his teaching.
Both the primary school and the secondary school closely follow the New Zealand curriculum. The Technology Curriculum document is used in designing course outlines for the various levels in the two schools. The yearly Inspection visit from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority ensures that all the requirements are met at the secondary level. The current curriculum was introduced to Niue High School when the new NCEA was introduced in New Zealand schools in 2002. Prior to that, professional development programs were conducted for teachers and gradual changes were taking place in preparation for the switch over in 2002. It is the wish of the Niue government and its people that Niue continue to follow the New Zealand system, because of its economic dependency on New Zealand; it will be a lot cheaper to utilise the NZ system because of the other entitlements that the Niueans enjoy as New Zealand citizens.
Virtual initiatives in schoolsSome hints on their web site suggest that The Correspondence School of New Zealand, both for primary and secondary education has students on Niue.
Virtual initiatives in post-secondary educationThe University of the South Pacific has a Niue Campus that caters for distant learning, community education or adult students. There is also privately operating representation of St Clements University. It seems likely that the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand has students in Niue.
Lessons learntReferences
> New Zealand
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