The government is investing $20 million into improving maths teaching in primary schools, as studies show New Zealand kids are among the world's least numerate.
Disappointing that the Spinoff has been taken in by the false and misleading stats used by the National Party to justify the imposition of a rigid maths curriculum. The real question is which donors will benefit from government contracts for professional and course development. More privatisation by stealth.
IMO the general level of math achievment in this country was poor even back in the early 2000's. Having said that, My own math teacher from the UK has told me that, even there, the standard in math and science has been dumbed-down everywhere since about 1980. IMO this coincides with the trend for pushing less able kids into university, basically to support academia as a business entity and to replace apprenticeships.
Minister has admitted that private providers will produce the course materials. Not Ministry of Ed staff and teachers with experience in developing curriculum materials for New Zealand kids in a local context and for diverse learners.
Valid to be wary of the Nats USE of data to impose policies they want (regardless of data) & leverage criticism against former govts (incidentally for MOST of the medium/recent past have been led by Nats education Ministers policies) BUT the data the Spinoff is using seems to be independent of Aotearoa political influence? I read it that way anyway 🤷🏾♀️
I think they need to be REALLY careful about what they do with Kiwibank. The ONLY reason I keep an account there is for Aotearoa ownership - IF it goes to PRIVATE ownership I am gone, and wonder how many others would follow? We already have NZ banks such as SBS (which is my main bank & excellent) or TSB which always rates well with customers in surveys. I realise Finance Minister Willis SAYS they are looking at NZ, but given her misleading about several other policies I don't trust anything she says - sad eh?
Disappointing that the Spinoff has been taken in by the false and misleading stats used by the National Party to justify the imposition of a rigid maths curriculum. The real question is which donors will benefit from government contracts for professional and course development. More privatisation by stealth.
IMO the general level of math achievment in this country was poor even back in the early 2000's. Having said that, My own math teacher from the UK has told me that, even there, the standard in math and science has been dumbed-down everywhere since about 1980. IMO this coincides with the trend for pushing less able kids into university, basically to support academia as a business entity and to replace apprenticeships.
Minister has admitted that private providers will produce the course materials. Not Ministry of Ed staff and teachers with experience in developing curriculum materials for New Zealand kids in a local context and for diverse learners.
Valid to be wary of the Nats USE of data to impose policies they want (regardless of data) & leverage criticism against former govts (incidentally for MOST of the medium/recent past have been led by Nats education Ministers policies) BUT the data the Spinoff is using seems to be independent of Aotearoa political influence? I read it that way anyway 🤷🏾♀️
I think they need to be REALLY careful about what they do with Kiwibank. The ONLY reason I keep an account there is for Aotearoa ownership - IF it goes to PRIVATE ownership I am gone, and wonder how many others would follow? We already have NZ banks such as SBS (which is my main bank & excellent) or TSB which always rates well with customers in surveys. I realise Finance Minister Willis SAYS they are looking at NZ, but given her misleading about several other policies I don't trust anything she says - sad eh?