A redesign of the Ministry of Education is underway, with Te Mahau being introduced within a new look Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga.
Government decisions in 2019 in response to the Tomorrow’s Schools review, signalled changes the Ministry needed to make to the organisational design of Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education and the work it does.
The Ministry says, “What is required is a more responsive, accessible and integrated local support function for the whole education sector.”
On Wednesday 9 June, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Mātauranga | the Secretary for Education Iona Holsted released decisions to staff for the establishment of Te Mahau, previously referred to as the Education Service Agency, within a redesigned Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education.
Holsted said, “The decisions I have taken give effect to the Government’s response to the Independent Taskforce
Review of Tomorrows Schools. While the Government accepted most of the Taskforce recommendations it reached some different conclusions about organisational design.
“The decisions also take into account what we heard through the wider Kōrero Mātauranga, and what we learned
through COVID Lockdown.”
In a statement on June 17, the Ministry of Education said, “These are foundation steps. They create a new leadership team with more frontline membership and create an organisational design that will help the Ministry provide more support to the whole education sector.
“Te Mahau will deliver new supports and services to schools and early learning services in stages over time and subject to Budget decisions.
“It is important that the wider education sector is engaged in developing the relationship they want to have with Te Mahau and the design of services they receive over time. In the coming weeks, the Ministry will begin to engage with representatives of peak bodies on how they see Te Mahau will work with them and they with it.”
The formal establishment of Te Mahau, and subsequent changes to Te Tāhuhu | The Ministry, will take effect on 4 October 2021.
There is a brief summary overview of the new approach here:
If you want to read about the change in more detail, you can read this summary document:
And see below for the message sent to education sector peak bodies.
