Education Horowhenua
Horowhenua District Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) includes education as one of the community outcomes for our district. The education outcome is: A community where all people have the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in a knowledge society.
Formation of Education Horowhenua
The formation of Education Horowhenua is based on a view that achieving this outcome is not the sole responsibility of any one sector of our community. Evidence shows that achieving broad community goals requires collaboration between a range of community partners working together to make best use of resources and expertise. The wider the range of community partners involved, the more diverse the networks and areas of influence and support that can be harnessed.
An education strategy has been developed as a starting point for the work of Education Horowhenua. It proposes that we adopt a vision that states our commitment to work together and to take joint responsibility for the achievement of our children. The strategy proposes four goals that as a district we agree to work towards. This action could be at a district or more localised level. The goals express what we want to achieve for learners in the Horowhenua over time. They are:
- good foundations through participation in early childhood education
- achievement at all stages of education at or above national averages
- Māori students succeeding academically and culturally
- Preparedness for, and successful transition to, further study and work.
The strategy proposes objectives for each goal that we can monitor as a district, using agreed protocols and research ethics and methodology. The strategy also suggests aligned community outcomes and some key areas of initial action.
Education Horowhenua is a collaborative group of Community and Education sector representatives with motivation to see the young people of Horowhenua succeeding in their Education experiences and given every opportunity possible to ensure a positive Education experience. Education Horowhenua is coordinated by Horowhenua District Council’s community development team and is joined by 14 passionate community representatives. The group meet monthly, and discuss current issues or needs and work at a strategic level to look at how Education outcomes can be better achieved by our young people. Over the last two years lots of work has gone into finalising the strategy, getting a broad mandate from stakeholders and identifying the best way to work in the future.
Education Horowhenua will act primarily as a forum for education service providers, council, business, community, government agencies and other interested stakeholders to:
- establish and nurture a collective vision for successful education for all our young people
- co-ordinate initiatives and plan collectively to strengthen the provision of education in the Horowhenua
- provide a vehicle for the HDC and government agencies to work across the Horowhenua on initiatives that strengthen education outcomes
- share information and build networks across the Horowhenua and with external partners
- identify strategic issues and opportunities and act as a catalyst for new initiatives where there is a gap in current provision
- find and support others to take “ownership’ of initiatives and provide ongoing encouragement and support.
- feed into the Community Wellbeing Committee about current trends, local needs and possible solutions to respond to these needs.
For more information please contact our Community Development Manager.
Photo: Education Horowhenua Group