2. DIANNE YATES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports, if any, has he received on efforts to ensure students can learn the skills they need to become active participants in New Zealand’s democracy?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The new draft curriculum identifies the competencies and values that enable young New Zealanders to live together in a diverse and democratic society. This includes children understanding the value of integrity and how to act ethically. In addition, the social studies curriculum gives children the opportunity to learn how the systems of government work and reflect different types of decision making.
What other reports has he seen about opportunities for students to participate in learning about democracy in New Zealand?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have seen a Sunday Star-Times report of a school student, push polling on behalf of the National Party. The report tells of a Hamilton woman receiving a call from a teenager who purported to be conducting a political phone poll. The young person admitted he was encouraged to ridicule people when they did not respond in the appropriate way. It turned out that the teenager attended a local Exclusive Brethren school, and the poll was a “homework assignment” for his class. That is hardly an example of teaching young people how to act ethically.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is a very interesting answer from the Minister. Many of us read the Sunday Star-Times article, and I would ask him to table his evidence that verifies the names of the individuals who are party to that story. Otherwise, of course, we are left believing that it is just a piece of fiction.
Madam SPEAKER
Hon Bill EnglishGiven that the Minister has referred to the new draft curriculum, can he explain to the House, now that he has a new draft curriculum, how he will tell whether it works for individual children in lifting their learning?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Of course, the core of any education system is how we teach, what we teach, and how we assess. So three major strands of work are around the process of training teachers, of developing a new curriculum, and of new assessment tools at the primary school level and the National Certificate of Educational Achievement at the secondary school level.
Metiria TureiDoes the Minister agree with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that quality education must include “values and civic education, especially for human rights and democracy, peace, and universally shared values such as citizenship, tolerance, non-violence, and dialogue among cultures and civilisations”; if so, will he reconsider the draft curriculum’s complete failure to mention Te Tiriti o Waitangi—this nation’s founding document—and consider making the study of civics an integral and compulsory part of our curriculum?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
There are a lot of questions in there, and I guess at the headline level I would agree with the earlier statements in relation to the Treaty that have been canvassed here. There is a consultation process going on. As I have said to the member, there is an opportunity for her to make a submission around the Treaty issues. The issues of civics, of course, are covered throughout the history and social studies parts of the curriculum. Of course, schools these days with this style of curriculum have the ability to make use of those areas of learning through a whole range of curriculum areas.
Dr Pita SharplesTēnā koe, Madam Speaker, tēnā tātou katoa. How can students respect and understand Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a basis of our modern democracy if it is not discussed as a key feature of the school curriculum?
Would the Minister agree that removing maths from the school curriculum will lead to students becoming proficient in maths; if not, why does he think that removing the Treaty of Waitangi from the school curriculum will lead to a greater understanding, by students, of the nature of our democracy?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I would agree with the first part of the question. As to the second part, it has not been removed. I would also remind the member of four things: one, it is in the Act; two, it is in the goals; three, it is in the guidelines to schools; and, four, it will be embodied in a Māori version of the curriculum next year.