Editorial: Better platform or bar set higher?

Since its introduction at primary schools last year, national standards have caused controversy, confusion and even fear.

The system sees parents receive at least two written reports a year showing their child's progress and achievement in reading, writing and maths.

The Ministry of Education says children who are at, or above, the standards are "on track to leave school with a worthwhile qualification".

In principle, it is a sound idea. Previously, primary school pupils received report cards which could be subjective as they were only based on the teacher's lessons not a specific learning level.

But as the first of these new written reports are given out, some Bay of Plenty parents are worried their children are not achieving the new standards.

The Bay of Plenty Times Weekend reported that concerned parents are now paying hundreds of dollars for private tutoring to get them up to speed.

While it is a positive sign that parents are showing concern for their children's education and want to improve their achievement, it begs a number of questions on what is a huge topic.

What was happening in our education system before national standards were introduced?

Should it not be up to schools to bring these children up to the required standards rather than parents turning to private education?

Were too many children failing unbeknown to their parents? Were class lessons not taught at the appropriate level?

And is the school curriculum too non-prescriptive, with not enough emphasis on hard-core learning of basic reading and maths?

One Bay private educator, Judith Kramer, says previous school reports provided encouragement rather than an assessment of achievement and expectations.

Parents were happy that their child was trying hard at reading without realising that they may have been been below standard.

Mrs Kramer says national standards have fine-tuned the reporting system.

In today's edition, on page A4, the Ministry of Education reveals that thousands of parents will have been left confused about whether their children were on track to meet National Standards.

Dave Bell, president of the Western Bay Principals Association and principal of Bellevue School, believes there is a lack of understanding of the system.

Students are assessed mid-way through the year before they have covered some of the work required - children are not expected to reach the standard until the end of the year.

National standards, in principle, are a good way for monitoring children's learning and ensuring they are at achieving at the correct level.

But clearly there are problems in the way it is being implemented and in the number of schools buying into the concept. The ministry needs to address these.