Teacher groups urge rethink on standards

Ian Leckie. Photo / Derek Flynn

Calls for a full review of National Standards grew yesterday following confirmation that a key player in the development of the controversial system was resigning.

The debate surrounding the standards was reignited this week when Prime Minister John Key acknowledged the policy had not gone as smoothly as planned.

He described the first year of the system as "a trial" and admitted there had been "teething problems" with moderation between schools.

Yesterday, opponents jumped on the PM's comments. The NZ Educational Institute said the admission of problems was a "significant victory for the thousands of parents, teachers, principals and academics who have expressed deep concerns" about National Standards.

Last night, confirmation that the Ministry of Education's manager of curriculum teaching and learning, Mary Chamberlain, was resigning added further fuel to the fire.

Ms Chamberlain has been a key player in driving the standards policy, and though her resignation - effective from July - is for personal reasons, opponents say it is the perfect time to review the system.

Principals' Federation president Peter Simpson said the Government needed to "halt implementation and conduct a full review", in partnership with the sector.

"The standards are vague and ambiguous and so is the data they produce for reporting. This is not only unhelpful to parents but dangerous when applied to children's achievement."

Mr Simpson said the aim of the standards was to lift achievement.

"We totally agree with that sentiment but National Standards are not the way to achieve it," he said.

"We need to look at learning support systems for schools if we are going to help the underachievers do better, not another way to measure what these pupils can't do."

NZEI president Ian Leckie said a growing number of school communities had expressed a lack of confidence in the standards.

"John Key's comments completely validate those concerns and send a clear message to schools that even the Government can't keep up the facade that implementation of the standards is going well."

He said it was ironic Mr Key called last year a trial, when Education Minister Anne Tolley has repeatedly said there is no need for a trial.

Last night, Ms Tolley said National Standards would continue.

The Ministry of Education's deputy secretary for schooling, Anne Jackson, said the ministry would continue to build on "the important foundations" Ms Chamberlain had laid for National Standards. It would also continue to support schools in raising student achievement.

Ms Chamberlain said she was leaving her Wellington job to spend more time at her home in Auckland. She would spend the remainder of her tenure "further supporting the implementation of National Standards".