What data should we request from the Ministry of Education?

How about number of graduates per degree and institution?

Student loan amounts?

School attendance (primary and secondary)?

School/university "performance" data?

I have been using education counts for a bunch of demographic work- is quite useful https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/home

The 'home' location or 'last high school' for 1st year enrollments would provide an interesting story about internal migration.

I'll ask TEC if they could release that for GovHack.

Nick, I'm meeting with someone from TEC next week. Can you clarify what would be useful from the below?

"Sure thing we can give you data about last high school for first year students. Lets chat about details when we catch up but things to think about in the interim are do you want from high school to something more specific than tertiary study? E.g. Type of institution (uni, ITP...), level of study (foundation level, certificate, diploma, degree)..."

Youth activists have asked about school anti-bullying policies, and Safer Schools practices including professional development training for teachers on gender diversity and LGBTIQ issues. Is there a database of resources and good practice templates, and of individual school policies that can be accessed? Statements by individual principals that their school has no gay or trans students so they don't need a policy isn't really good enough.

Re post above - there is one link on Education Counts to information relating to transgender students and resources (from the USA) about bullying.
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/topics/bes/spotlight-on/spotlight-on-counter-bullying-pedagogies

There doesn't appear to be a process or database for comparing school practices. Parents need to compare schools across a range of aspects and standarising information may help.

Thanks Shaun. Obviously the more detail they are willing to give us the more useful it would be. The particular interest for me is the trend is my town for people to leave to go and study, but often do not come back. That info could help our province to find out more about making it more attractive for the students to bring their skills home earlier.

Thanks Nick, will let you know how I get on,

Nick we should have the data you requested from TEC by GovHack.

Hi Nick, TEC have done their very best to get the data you requested, but it kicked off a big discussion about data releases with one of their companion agencies. That means it won't be ready for GovHack this year. They understand your underlying data need very well, and will use it as a specific case to drive more reasonable data release processes.

No problem Shaun. This whole event has been great for kicking off those conversations, so long may they continue .. (to release data that is)