On Sunday, National Ministers announced a policy dubbed “Make it Count” to boost maths education.
The Government has announced another leg of its plan to strengthen maths education in schools, promising a huge overhaul of the Education Review Office (ERO) in order to enforce and report on the new standards.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today the Ministry of Education will intervene earlier and more often in schools which need extra support in teaching maths. The Government will also overhaul ERO’s reporting to focus on progress, achievement and assessment.
“The Ministry will sharpen its approach to intervening in schools when student achievement is at risk, redirecting and targeting resources to schools with inadequate student achievement,” Stanford said.
She said schools will now enforce “clearer reporting to parents on what schools are getting right and what they aren’t”.
Stanford said achievement is not where it should be.
“Further data released today shows just 45% of students achieved the NCEA co-requisite standard for numeracy this year - a 10-percentage point decline from the same time last year. Achievement in maths in Māori medium and Kaupapa Māori settings is even more alarming, at only 25%,” she said.
On Sunday, National Ministers announced a policy dubbed “Make it Count” to boost maths education. Some of the curriculum changes were in train under Labour, but have been brought forward.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford speak at the post-Cabinet press conference in the Beehive. Photo / Mark Mitchell
It involves a new Years 0-8 maths curriculum that will be introduced a year early, from Term 1 2025, with resources available to support teachers. Resources, including teacher and student workbooks, will be provided into every primary and intermediate school.
The Teaching Council has agreed to lift maths entry requirements for new teachers and $20 million has been set aside for professional development in structured maths for teachers.
“The Teaching Council has agreed to strengthen the maths component in Initial teacher education. From next year, trainee teachers will be better prepared to enter the classroom by their initial teacher training to teach the new maths and English curriculum.
Iwi descend on Parliament to protest child protection reforms
Earlier today, Northland iwi Ngāpuhi took its opposition to child protection reforms to Parliament where more than 200 people have gathered to demand the Government “stand down” from repealing section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.
Ngāpuhi leaders are concerned about how the repeal will affect the iwi’s relationship with Oranga Tamariki, particularly given almost a third of Māori children in state care were Ngāpuhi.
Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, who met iwi leaders this morning, promised the repeal would not compromise the relationship.
Rare blue sky and sunshine greeted those who had travelled from Northland for today’s protest.
Section 7AA requires Oranga Tamariki to improve outcomes for Māori and consider the whakapapa of tamariki in state care.
Ngāpuhi kaumātua Hone Sadler led the protest group, which was joined by leaders of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. They were welcomed by members of the Opposition from Te Pāti Māori, Labour and the Green Party. Independent MP Darleen Tana, who recently resigned from the Greens, also attended.
No Government ministers or MPs received the protest. It was understood Chhour, the lead minister for the reform, was ill. It was unclear whether she would have attended the protest if she was in full health.
Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi chairman Mane Tahere said the iwi had arrived with a united message to back down from the repeal.
“I simply say to the coalition Government, ‘Stand down, mate, stand down’.
“This is Ngāpuhi loud and clear. If you don’t stop, we’ll stop you.”
Te Rūnanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi chairman Mane Tahere speaks to the crowd at Parliament during the protest. Photo / Adam Pearse
He referenced former PM Sir John Key’s comments over the weekend, calling for politicians to take down the temperature concerning race relations debates.
Tahere said 827 Ngāpuhi children were in state care. It was recently reported that constituted about 29% of Māori children in state care.
He called for child welfare services be devolved to iwi organisations. The Government publicly supported the idea of devolving services to iwi and community groups.
Other leaders acknowledged the iwi had work to do to improve services, but they also claimed they were best-placed to support children now in state care.
Tahere met Chhour this morning before the protest. He told the Herald the meeting was largely a listening exercise.
Chhour wasn’t available for an interview as she was ill. However, in a statement, she said it was her third meeting with the iwi in which she claimed to have encouraged Ngāpuhi to continue pursuing more responsibility in supporting children.
“[Ngāpuhi has] concerns that the repeal of section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act might impact the possibility of future partnership between their iwi and Oranga Tamariki.
“I have made it very clear, this will not be the case.
“Oranga Tamariki has iwi stakeholder partnerships with iwi that date back prior to the introduction of 7AA.
“There will be more to come, especially under the ‘Enabling Communities’ framework, which is about devolving responsibility back to communities and away from Wellington.”
Children's Minister Karen Chhour is encouraging Ngāpuhi to take more responsibility in the care of children. Photo / Mark Mitchell
She said Oranga Tamariki was considering a Ngāpuhi proposal, seemingly regarding how the iwi would work with the agency.
Today’s protest followed a similar-sized group who braved heavy rain on Saturday in Northland’s Kaikohe, the heart of Ngāpuhi, to show their opposition.
On Friday, Ngāpuhi leaders were among those who walked out of a meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, saying the Government was running roughshod over Māori with policies such as the repeal.
Public submissions on the repeal continued today, including one from former Children’s Minister Tracey Martin.
Martin, who was involved in section 7AA’s implementation, said that part of the legislation was “ground-breaking” in the Government’s ability to support children.
“7AA is the key to making this change to become a country that supports child protection.”
On today’s protest at Parliament by Ngāpuhi, Luxon claimed last week’s iwi chairs forum meeting was constructive and positive but iwi chairs had a different account of the meeting, saying the Government wasn’t listening to Māori in its policy agenda.
Additional reporting: RNZ
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.
