Education leaders have issued a scathing rebuke of the Government’s curriculum overhaul, warning it risks leaving behind teachers and students.
In an open letter published this morning to Education Minister Erica Stanford, they are calling for an immediate pause to the reforms.
The letter is signed by 88 heads of unions, federations and associations in the education sector.
It condemned what they described as a “departure from evidence-based learning” and also took aim at changes relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi that they claimed had been “driven by the narrow, ideological interests of a small group”.
“As they stand, the current draft curriculum documents and framework are not fit for purpose and do not meet the Ministry of Education’s own stated standards,” the educators wrote.
However, the Ministry of Education is defending the proposed changes and says sector feedback will be carefully considered.
Deputy Secretary for the curriculum centre Pauline Cleaver told the Herald everyone shared the same goal, “a high‑quality, inclusive curriculum that supports teachers and enables all tamariki to thrive”.
The backlash comes as draft updates to the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa remain open for public feedback before final decisions are expected next year, alongside sweeping changes to the secondary qualification system.
The curriculum proposals are available for public feedback until late April and finalised versions are expected mid-2026.
The Government is overhauling the curriculum to create a more “knowledge-rich” system, introducing new subjects and pathways.
At the same time, it plans to scrap NCEA and replace it with a new qualifications framework from 2028, with fewer levels, more standardised assessment, and a stronger focus on literacy, numeracy and core subjects.
Today’s joint statement said leaders are opposing the curriculum changes because of their frantic pace, flawed direction and a lack of genuine consultation. It included warnings that pushing ahead without sector buy-in risks failing the students the changes are intended to support.
“The sector has not been adequately resourced, nor has it been given enough time, to consider or implement the expected change,” the educators wrote.
New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa president Ripeka Lessels called the changes “reckless”.
“Educators are being told to implement a total curriculum overhaul at a breakneck pace and with minimal support, which is a recipe for failure,” Lessels said.
“If the minister truly cares about improving the educational outcomes for our tamariki, she will pause these changes and bring the profession into the room to design a curriculum that actually works.”
New Zealand Principals’ Federation president Jason Miles said Stanford’s enthusiasm was “misplaced” and he called on her to listen to the “reeling” sector rather than focus on urgently pushing through the changes.
“It’s now time for the minister to do her part by listening to and acting on our shared concerns,” Miles said.
Stanford has been approached for comment.
Cleaver told the Herald all feedback would be carefully considered and changes could be made to the overhaul where needed to provide “clarity and workability”.
The changes would be staged to give schools time to prepare, she said.
“Feedback from teachers and school leaders during consultation is informing this work.”
Cleaver said concerns about the pace of changes had been listened to “closely”, but she did not respond directly to whether the ministry would consider pausing the rollout.
“We have been actively engaged with the profession throughout the consultation period.
“This has included direct engagement with sector peak bodies, subject‑matter experts and practitioners, alongside open public consultation.
“The feedback received is being carefully considered as the draft curriculum is reviewed and refined.”
Meanwhile, in March the Government confirmed it would go ahead with the significant overhaul of New Zealand’s secondary school qualification system, including the replacement of the current NCEA programme.
Among the changes confirmed:
This means the first students to participate will be the current Year 9 cohort. The staggered implementation also ensures no students will have to switch between the current NCEA system and the new qualification.
Rachel Maher is an investigative reporter covering Auckland issues and education. She started at the Herald as a breaking news journalist in 2022, before joining the Auckland team this year.
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