Recent news about New Zealand’s declining position in international educational assessment rankings has been treated as if it is a new phenomenon requiring drastic changes to the school system.
But some suggested solutions, such as the Principals Federation’s call for greater involvement by the Ministry of Education in curriculum decisions, seem simplistic. Problems in education are more complex and relate to the relationship of schooling to society in general.
It’s worth noting that when these international large-scale assessments (e.g. PISA and TIMSS) were first deployed in the 1990s, New Zealand scored in the top five or 10 of all participating countries at year 5, year 8 and year 11. Since then scores have fallen to the middle of the pack, although slightly above average.
Press Release – NZ Council for Educational Research Many teachers and school leaders think climate change will impact on their students futures, according to a new NZCER survey of English-medium secondary schools. The survey shows that schools tend to support student leadership around climate and sustainability. …
Many teachers and school leaders think climate change will impact on their students’ futures, according to a new NZCER survey of English-medium secondary schools. The survey shows that
schools tend to support student leadership around climate and sustainability. However, it is less likely to be a school-wide priority, and students may have few opportunities to learn about pathways and career opportunities in a low-carbon economic future.