A national survey conducted by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research revealed that providing support for students with mental health and well-being issues has become the primary concern for secondary schools. The survey found that 80% of the surveyed secondary school principals identified supporting vulnerable students as the top issue in 2022, up from 66% in 2018. Other significant concerns included schools facing excessive demands, the hiring of quality teachers, and keeping up with changes to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and the curriculum. The survey also highlighted that secondary school principals are increasingly finding their workloads challenging, with only 9% believing their workload is manageable, down from 22% in 2018.
Key Points:
Primary Concern: A national survey in New Zealand has shown that mental health and well-being support for students is the top concern for secondary schools, with 80% of surveyed principals identifying it as the primary issue.
Other Challenges: Secondary schools also face concerns such as excessive demands on schools, hiring quality teachers, and keeping up with NCEA and curriculum changes.
Workload Challenges: Principals’ workloads are becoming increasingly difficult, with only 9% of respondents finding their workload manageable, down from 22% in 2018.
Optimism and Support: Despite the challenges, most principals felt optimistic and well-supported, but many reported a lack of clear awareness of upcoming policy changes that could impact their work.
Support for Students: While over 80% of principals indicated good support for Māori students, support for Pacific students was around 50%.
Educational Initiatives: Most principals supported new NCEA literacy and numeracy tests, and general support for changes to the qualification was low.
Work Hours: Nearly all principals said they worked over 50 hours a week, with half working over 60 hours.
Focus on Relationships: Schools have plans to encourage positive relationships, address racism, and teach emotional skills. However, some schools do not actively teach emotional skills and the healthy use of digital devices and social media.
Support for LGBTQIA+ Students: The majority of schools actively support LGBTQIA+ students and gender-transitioning students.
Kāhui Ako: Around half of principals commented positively on kāhui ako (groups of schools working together) but desired improvements to the scheme.
Additional Support Needed: Schools play a critical role in supporting students’ mental health and well-being, but they require more support to manage the increasing demands and expectations.
Source: Radio New Zealand
