Parents who are “despondent” over their children’s numeracy learning will see “swift action”, PM Christopher Luxon says, as he reveals a new “maths action plan”.
Luxon announced the Government will roll out a refreshed maths curriculum to primary and intermediate school students in five months time – a year earlier than planned.
The Government will also spend $20 million for development in structured maths for teachers as the Teaching Council lifts maths entry requirements for new teachers.
Going forward, anyone wanting to train to become a teacher must soon have attained at least NCEA Level 2 maths – formerly known as Form 6.
There would also be new “small-group interventions” for students who are falling significantly behind the curriculum level. The Government’s previously-announced twice yearly assessments for maths in primary schools would also begin from the start of 2025.
The Prime Minister said testing data for mathematics was “appalling” and showed there needed to be action taken now.
“Around 50,000 children in Year 8 did not meet the expected curriculum benchmark for maths. There’s no way to describe those results as anything other than a total system failure,” Luxon said in a media release.
Average scores in maths, science and reading all fell, while the gap between rich and poor students grew. (Source: Breakfast)
“These figures are appalling, but I suspect not a surprise for many parents who I know are frustrated and despondent about the progress of their children.
“Whether it’s the curriculum, teacher training or priorities within the education system – for years, we have not been setting kids up for success. And if we aren’t setting our kids up for success, we aren’t setting New Zealand up for success.”
Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford launched the first three components of a “maths action plan” at the National Party conference earlier this morning.
New maths curriculum coming in five months
National’s education spokesperson joins Q+A to discuss her party’s plans to reform the primary school curriculum if elected this year. (Source: 1News)
Work on a refreshed national curriculum began before the coalition government came to power, but Stanford said the roll-out would be accelerated from Term 1 next year.
“We will bring forward the rollout of a new structured maths curriculum for Year 0-8 students a year earlier than planned,” the Education Minister said.
“From Term 1 next year, children will be learning maths based on a new world-leading, knowledge-rich maths curriculum based on the best from across the OECD like Singapore and Australia, adapted for New Zealand.
“To support teachers to make this change, the Government will be working with a range of providers to introduce teacher guides and student workbooks that will go into classrooms across New Zealand.
“The expectations for what children must learn each year will be clearly laid out, so parents know exactly what their kids will be learning from the start of next year.”
New teachers required to have Level 2 maths
A revamped curriculum will be rolled out to primary and intermediate school students a year earlier than planned. (Source: 1News)
Stanford continued: “We need to support teachers, so they have the confidence to teach kids maths. That’s why we’re shifting $20 million to become available for professional development in maths.
“But to build a pipeline of great teachers we also need to lift the standard for new teachers. That’s why it’s good news that the Teaching Council has agreed that anyone wanting to train to become a teacher must have at least NCEA Level 2 maths.
“And finally, there will be small group interventions for students who are falling significantly behind curriculum level, informed by twice-yearly standardised assessments for maths in primary schools announced earlier in the year, which are being implemented from the start of 2025”.
In response to the Government’s announcement, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said: “Those Year 8 students who aren’t getting results now, started school with national standards under the previous National government.
“That was a failure and we are still playing catch-up.”
He added: “I’m pleased to see Christopher Luxon has committed to bringing forward Labour’s curriculum changes and is paying for teacher training and development.
“He should take the handbrake off school property builds and get rid of his Government’s terrible charter schools bill too.”
