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Alwyn Poole
Began teaching in 1991. TBC, HBHS, St Cuths. Founded/led Mt Hobson MS–18 years. Co-founded SAMS and MSWA. Econs degree, Masters in Edn, tchg dip, post grad dip – sport.
The key statistic for NZ education vs the world is that we have the highest gap between students who do well and those who do not.
These gaps exist within schools by ethnicity. E.g., for Auckland Grammar School, 47 per cent of their Māori students get UE, 77 per cent of their European students get that qualification and 84 per cent of their Asian students.
The gaps also exist MASSIVELY between schools.
This is how things look for the top 100 high schools vs the bottom 100.
Top 100 schools
L2 NCEA for leavers 95%
L3 NCEA for leavers 85%
UE for leavers 77%
Retention to 17yo 95%
Transition to degree-level study 60%
Bottom 100 schools
L2 NCEA for leavers 58%
L3 NCEA for leavers 28%
UE for leavers 9.8%
Retention to 17yo 60%
Transition to degree-level study 5%
You see... it seems positive to change the NZ curriculum (although all that has been published – especially Elizabeth Rata’s “suggested texts” – is significantly dated, irrelevant and boring).
It seems positive to suggest changes to the NZ qualification system but – by your own admission – things will go backwards for marginalised children.
You – Minister Stanford – have listened to very narrow views: you have not addressed the huge issue that many children arrive at school at five years old well behind... and never recover. You have not addressed the needs of truly struggling schools.
This article was originally published by Education – the Absolute Best Ways.
