12. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports, if any, has he received regarding changes to assessment policies in primary schools?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Firstly, I have seen reports stating that 90 percent of primary schools are making effective use of assessment data in core areas such as English and maths to improve student achievement. Secondly, I have also seen reports stating that New Zealand ranks in the second group of nations in the world in core areas such as reading and maths. Thirdly, I have seen reports from the National Party, which wants to undermine that success by introducing age-related standardised tests for 5-year-olds and league tables. It is no wonder a typical response is that of Judy Hanna, President of the New Zealand Principals Federation, who said: “This is nothing more than a cynical attack on a world class education system.”
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The Labour-led Government is supporting the development of what is called assessment for learning in New Zealand schools. This is where teachers actively make use of assessment to find out what a student is doing, and then apply that knowledge to improve the student’s performance. We have supported that policy with very substantial investment in teacher professional development and in such world-class assessment tools as asTTle. The approach ensures that teachers, parents, and students understand where students went wrong and how to improve their performance. Our focus is on achieving the full potential of a student rather than on centrally imposed minimum standards.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Has the Minister been informed of the radio interview with a principal this morning where the interviewee claimed she had, 1 week ago, introduced John Key to the idea of benchmarking as used in her school, and what does he think of educational policy developed on the basis of the last school visited by a party’s leader?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I thought the interview revealed what we all know, which is that the only person who knows anything about education on the National side is Bill English, the co-leader. It tells us a great deal about why John Key has approached these issues from the point of view of such old ideas as those he has proposed. But I tell the member that if Mr Key goes to almost any of the schools in this country, I will be very proud of what they will tell him about how the education system works. Glen Taylor School is an excellent example of such a school.
Katherine RichWhen John Key has clearly said that National is not introducing standardised testing or league tables and wants a diagnostic assessment of learning in order to inform classroom teaching, does the Minister think that he should be the first one to have his reading ability assessed—because, frankly, he has not read the speech or understood it—and what is he going to do to stop one in five kids from leaving school without being able to read and write?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I would just say this to the member. I was at a conference yesterday of 1,600 principals from around the world. Every single one of them thinks John Key wants national standardised testing. The National Party, I am afraid, has a lot of work to do.