- By Simeon Brown, MP for Pakuranga
I’ve long believed that a world-class education is the greatest gift we can give to our children for the future of our country.
I know this is true for so many of the people who live in Pakuranga – a community people choose to live in because of the great school’s that we have here in east Auckland.
Education can help solve many of the challenges we face but, sadly, New Zealand has been falling behind in recent years, letting down the next generations in the process.
A recent NCEA pilot demonstrated just how bad things are getting, with 98 per cent of students failing a basic writing test and two thirds failing to meet standards in reading and maths.
For a so-called first world country, this is appalling and, if we are to ever meet our potential for prosperity, a complete educational revamp is needed.
This is why National announced our “Teaching the Basics Brilliantly” plan which will ensure our children have the basic skills they need to face the modern challenges of the world.
We will require all primary and intermediate schools to teach an hour each of reading, writing and maths, on average, every school day.
We will also rewrite parts of the curriculum to provide clarity on what should be taught each year to every year group, and ensure parents are kept informed each step of the way as to their child’s progress.
This will be accomplished through proper assessment of student progress in these foundational subjects, giving parents, teachers and the education system as a whole a clearer picture of where we are and what more we need to do.
Finally, we will improve teacher training to ensure new teachers have the skills to teach the basics and provide them with more tools in the classroom to help.
Here in east Auckland, we are incredibly lucky to have some of the highest-achieving schools in the nation, and many parents move mountains to live locally and ensure their children receive a quality education.
It shouldn’t matter where you live or where you come from; every child deserves the best possible education, and to be taught the basics brilliantly.
National’s plan will raise student achievement and ensure future generations of Kiwis are equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed at whatever they choose to do.
