January 23, 2014
Teachers’ union finds national standard falling short
The president of NZEI Te Riu Roa says national standards aren’t proving the answer to educational under-achievement that the Government claims.
The primary teachers’ union is holding a conference in Wellington this week to take stock of the what is happening and hear the latest education research from here and overseas.
Judith Nowotarski says a three-year study by Waikato University Professor Martin Thrupp has found national standards isn’t as embedded in school culture as the Government would like.
She says its focus on data and testing can leave pupils disenhearted, and teachers remain unconvinced that will improve outcomes.
"When it plays out in the local classroom it's not working because the fit isn't there. We know our children. We know our whanau. We know how to do bright, innovative, enthusiastic learning, and that's what we hope this conference will send them away with," Ms Nowotarski says.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key today signalled his Government intends to make education an election issue.
Proposed changes announced at a state of the nation speech to a business audience in west Auckland included incentives to attract top principals to poorly-performing schools.
He says National is drawing on overseas research.
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