The Government's focus on literacy and numeracy achievement in schools has resulted in science achievement dropping off dramatically since 2004, say Wanganui principals.
Wanganui Primary Principals' Association,Wanganui Intermediate principal Charles Oliver and Kai Iwi School principal Alastair White were commenting on a report released this week by the Education Review Authority (ERO).
The report found that for science for Years 5 to 8, just 27 per cent of 100 schools reviewed last year had effective science programmes.
Chief review officer Graham Stoop said children were not being given the "best opportunity to build on their excitement about discovering the world around them".
"We need to improve the way we teach science to our young children to help them succeed in an economy increasingly based on knowledge and innovation," Dr Stoop said. This latest report concludes that science programmes have not improved since 2004, he said. "The recent emphasis on literacy and numeracy should not be at the expense of other curriculum areas such as science. Teachers need support to understand how literacy and numeracy teaching can complement science and give children the tools necessary for science learning," Dr Stoop said.