Education Minister meets Youth Advisory Group

The Minister of Education Chris Hipkins set up the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) to provide him with advice directly. 

“It has been a real privilege to meet and work with this inspiring group of young people. It’s important to hear about their experiences of our education system and how they think we can improve it,” says Hipkins.

“I want our young people to have a say in the way our education system works and meeting the 12 young people in the Youth Advisory Group has highlighted how important this exciting opportunity is for young New Zealanders to get involved in the decision-making.

“I was particularly excited to talk to this diverse group of young people about their perspectives of education. They discussed NCEA, aspects of wellbeing at school and ideas about digital assessment.”

As well as meeting the Minister of Education, the advisory group members heard from education experts about topics including the NCEA Review and online digital assessment, offering their experiences of and ideas about these important education areas.

Shaneel Lal, from Otahuhu College, said he was excited to be part of these important conversations and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“The best part of this has been that, regardless of all of our different backgrounds, we all shared common ground and came together from all of our individual struggles to promote change.”

Watene Campbell, from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna in Wellington, said he really enjoyed getting to know everyone better over the two days: “Rawe katoa ki a au te wairua, te whakawhanaungatanga i waenga i te roopū i wēnei rangi e rua.” 

Okirano Tilaia from Cashmere High School in Christchurch said, “I could leave the room feeling like I’d said everything I felt.”

Insights from the advisory group will also be shared with the Ministry of Education and other education sector agencies in March.

The advisory group meets four times each year. The next meeting will be held in May.

YAG 2018