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Scrapping national standards will relieve stress that has been damaging pupils, teachers and principals.
That’s the view of Principals’ Association president Whetu Cormick to the announcement from new Education Minister Chris Hipkins the National Government’s controversial continuous assessment programme would be axed.
Mr Cormick says when the policy was introduced nine years ago principals warned it was based on failed overseas models and would narrow the curriculum to reading, writing and mathematics.
Compliance has created enormous stress, especially on Maori pupils who may subjected to targeted teaching to bring them up to the standards.
"Put aside how teachers are feeling and just focus on our young people. An immense amount of pressure and I’ve heard horror stories of some schools publicly displaying where children are at on the wall so that all young people can see this and that means kids who are well below, below, at and above. That’s outrageous and those principals who do that need to be questioned about their integrity," Mr Cormick says.
He says scrapping national standards could ease teacher shortages as teachers change their minds about leaving the profession.
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