I arrived
into the NZ education system 10 years ago. Back then I was full of optimism. I
had left behind the damaging political agenda for education that had decimated
schools in the UK and discovered something really exciting. A new NZ curriculum in
2007 was full of opportunities for schools to enhance rich, authentic learning
experiences. Furthermore, since NZ was relatively sheltered from the economic
downturn that was crippling the rest of the world, I genuinely felt we had an
opportunity to educate a generation of kiwis that would have an advantage over
their competitors in the global market place.
Sadly,
since then, the NZ government has:
ü
Gifted $35 million to private
schools (<4% of students)
ü
Slashed $25 million from the Education Ministry coffers
ü
Abandoned the curriculum and implemented National Standards without trial, against advice and
with limited consultation. These were hurriedly legislated into law.
ü
Wiped $400 million from the (crucial) early childhood budget
ü
Narrowed curriculum to literacy and numeracy
ü
Sacked advisors not related to national standards (Science,
Technology, Arts…).
ü
Cut funding for technology teachers
ü Increased class sizes to over
1:27, 6 more than the OECD average
ü
Closed health camps and
residential schools for behavioural needs (illegally).
ü
Threatened schools who questioned National Standards with
having boards and principals sacked, professional development and funding
withheld or additional ERO visits.
ü Bungled Christchurch school closures.
ü
Employed new Education Ministry
head from UK with a background in Charter Schools and
limited knowledge of New Zealand system, who left quickly after a stormy
relationship with Hekia.
ü
Implemented Novopay without a proper trial despite having 147 software faults.
ü
Introduced charter schools despite no evidence of need or
raised attainment. Charter Schools are given a huge financial advantage over
public schools.
ü Watched for five years as New Zealand’s international ranking plummets to as low as 23rd.
ü Watched for five years as New Zealand’s international ranking plummets to as low as 23rd.
ü Ignored internationally regarded
research that reveals New Zealand's schools are suffering serious harm
under the National Standards regime.
ü
Announced that $359 million will be spent
on Executive Principals and
Teachers who are successful in raising achievement in National Standards. Educators question why the money is supporting a corporate management system and isn’t
being spent directly to help kids
ü
Changed teacher
training requirements to allow teachers to train in 6 weeks
ü
Developed PACT tool – a flawed tool to rationalize flawed standards that is universally
boycotted by all teaching associations
Following
the next election, National have already hinted at performance pay for teachers
and even school funding to be based on flawed and unworkable national
standards. Both these concepts are fundamentally flawed.
Children
have never been considered. Not once.
Education
outcomes have never been considered. Not once.
This
agenda is about relinquishing all financial, educational and social
responsibility to private enterprise. The research is unequivocal – your kids
will be far far far worse off under such a system.