Press (New Zealand)

Frame's self-described poor social and communication skills, difficulty developing relationships, and expressing or controlling emotions are all symptoms usually associated with autism spectrum disorders, says an Australian researcher.

National plans to increase the amount of funding for private schools and may also allow the sector to build and operate state education institutions.

A proposed strike by secondary teachers has been called off after an improved pay offer was made by the Education Ministry.

A strike threat by secondary teachers has been described as disappointing by Secretary for Education Karen Sewell.

By JO MCKENZIE-McLEAN - The Press
School police officers have been told to issue 80 traffic tickets a year.

By TARA ROSS - The Press
Some Christchurch schools are less than two-thirds full – and one is languishing at less than a third capacity – as the city's popular schools expand at their expense.

By YVONNE MARTIN - The Press
Canterbury police are about to start prosecuting parents who let their children skip school, and a mall is restricting students during school hours, in tough new measures against truancy.

Shirley Boys' High School is defending its practice of making students on detention walk around in orange overalls with words identifying them as work crew printed on the back. The principal says the overalls are not intended to shame pupils, just protect their uniforms while they are doing dirty jobs.

Chastity and modesty will be taught at New Zealand's first Purely Girls! camp based on America's growing Christian "purity" movement.

Hundreds of schools have no idea how well, or poorly, their students are achieving, a damning Education Review Office (ERO) report says.

A bid to water down a controversial bill outlawing the use of physical punishment with a "smacking clause" looks set to fail after the Maori Party today said it would not support it.

A Chinese student used by Lincoln University to publicise its campus was expelled for cheating last year after being dobbed in by fellow students, a Press investigation has revealed.

Why shouldn't this surpise us?
Chinese students have hit back at allegations that they make up the majority of cheaters at university. Several current and former students contacted The Press to say not all Chinese students cheat and many study hard for their qualifications. "I can only say some Chinese may cheat in the exam but I never cheat during any of my exams and assignments," one said.

The Government is looking for ways to prevent underage teenagers from getting alcohol as experts point to its devastating effects.

By IAN STEWARD
Website MySpace is moving to protect teenagers from cyber-savvy paedophiles by developing software that allows parents to track their children's movements on the internet.