Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has decided to introduce changes to the maths curriculum for Year 0-8 students a year earlier than planned. This decision comes after a study revealed that only 22% of Year 8 students are meeting the expected maths benchmarks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Luxon called the results “appalling” and felt immediate action was necessary. He announced that starting from the first term in 2025, a new structured maths curriculum will be implemented. This was the main highlight of his speech at the National Party conference on Sunday.
The urgency of this decision was driven by new data from the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study (CIPS). The study showed that 63% of Year 8 students were more than a year behind in their maths skills. Among Māori students, the situation was even worse, with 77% significantly behind.
Luxon emphasized the need for swift action, stating, “We don’t have time to muck around here.” Despite the challenge, he remains committed to the National Party’s goal of having 80% of students at or above their curriculum levels by 2030.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins supports the changes to the maths curriculum but criticized some of Luxon’s other education policies. He noted that the current Year 8 students began school under the national standards and that the system is still trying to catch up. Hipkins also urged Luxon to lift restrictions on school property developments and abandon the charter schools bill.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced that $20 million would be allocated for extra teacher training to ensure readiness for the new curriculum. She explained that the old curriculum was too vague and lacked specific benchmarks, making it difficult for teachers and parents to track student progress. The new curriculum will be more detailed, with regular testing to identify and support students who are falling behind.
The conference also touched on National’s plans for law and order and economic policies. Luxon defended the party’s tough stance on sentencing and youth offender boot camps, asserting that public safety is a top priority.
Luxon believes the party is energized and focused on delivering on its promises. He aims to improve the party’s standing in the polls, targeting a return to the mid-40s by 2026.
Education Minister Stanford criticized unions for opposing the new curriculum changes, calling them “completely out of touch.” She highlighted the need for a solid curriculum and well-trained teachers to improve maths education in New Zealand.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Key commented on the tense political climate, attributing it to economic concerns and race relations issues. He urged for a more balanced approach to race relations and criticized certain legislative moves that have caused tension.
Overall, Luxon and his team are pushing for significant changes in education to address what they see as a crisis in student performance, with the hope of improving outcomes for all New Zealand students.