How modern are ‘modern’ or ‘innovative’ learning environments in NZ?

Have you read Leon Benade’s NZARE blog post More than bricks and mortar: A critical examination of school property under the National-led Government? His post explored some of the current government policy ideas about school property and the design of school learning spaces, drawing on international as well as New Zealand sources. Benade notes the influential role that the OECD plays in educational policy formation. The New Zealand Ministry of Education regulates school classroom refurbishments and defines new school builds, and full compliance with ‘modern learning environments’ policy is expected by 2021. These detailed regulations contrast starkly with the openness of the New Zealand Curriculum, which encourages schools to adapt the shape and provision of the curriculum to meet local needs.