2. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports has he received on the numeracy of New Zealand students?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
It is good news. Research released today shows that the achievement of year 6 maths students has improved because of the Numeracy Professional Development Programme that was begun by the Labour-led Government in the year 2000. Schools involved in these projects have seen that two-thirds of students are either at or above the expected level in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. The number of students at risk of underachieving in fractions, decimals, and percentages is down from 42 percent in 2002 to 14 percent as a result of this project. Secondary schools have been involved only since 2005, but already the proportion of secondary school students achieving no more than basic level maths has dropped by two-thirds. The results show that investments in good teacher professional development pay off in key areas like this.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The Government will invest around $120 million this year in teacher professional development, along with $27 million for projects that are giving teachers the skills to lift numeracy and literacy standards for all students. As a result of this investment, our evaluations are showing major improvements across the 1,700 schools involved, the highest improvement amongst students who were previously the lowest achievers, and a lift in achievement across Māori and Pacific Island students. It is a very, very good project.
Katherine RichCan the Minister confirm the study’s disturbing conclusion that one in three kids in the sample left primary school not able to add or subtract at the expected level, and although he basks in the self-congratulation that two-thirds of kids can do this, is basic addition and subtraction not the very least that parents can expect from the school system after their kids have been at primary school for 6 years?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The member quite rightly raises the fact that there is still work to be done. She will remember that in the year 1996 the TIMSS report reported on her own Government’s complete and utter failure to support students to reach reasonable levels of numeracy and mathematics. As a result of this work here, I am sure she is applauding the fact that we are now well and truly going in the right direction. The results that she is talking about will be cured, as opposed to the very, very large numbers who were failing in the 1990s.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Will the Minister confirm that the numeracy development project grew out of the Mathematics and Science Taskforce established in 1998 in response to the very average New Zealand results in the third international study of mathematics and science, or TIMSS, as it is commonly known, with the task force having been initiated at the time by New Zealand First?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Yes, I can confirm that the task force grew out of work done by New Zealand First and by that member, in particular. Once again, that shows that even in the 1990s, when the levels of failure were virtually epidemic, it took New Zealand First to take the leadership on this issue from National to make a difference.