The Ministry of Education will need to support communities to learn from each other. Photo / Thinkstock
Opinion
Auckland consistently ranks highly in lists of the world's best cities but is never number one. So what would it take to turn Auckland into a first-class city? This week the Herald begins a 10-day series examining some of the biggest hurdles Auckland faces, from housing and transport to entertainment
and education. We look at what we are doing, what we need to do, and why Auckland's success matters to the rest of the country. In part three of the series we look at education.
• Share your ideas and join the debate on Facebook, on Twitter (#worldclassAKL) or email us worldclassakl@nzherald.co.nz
• WORLD CLASS AUCKLAND - Part 1: Housing
• WORLD CLASS AUCKLAND - Part 2: Environment
Three weeks ago the 2014 National Standards levels for primary and intermediate students were released. Overall, there's been little change to our children's maths, reading and writing levels over the last three years. The Ministry of Education talks of the need for "faster and larger improvements" to be made if its goal of 85 percent of students to achieve at or above the standards will be met in 2017. But how well set up is our system to make such improvements?
We have some real strengths. New Zealand has a world-leading curriculum. We're ahead of the game when it comes to recognising the importance of both the 'hard' and 'soft' skills that are needed in our rapidly changing society and economy. We're ahead of many other countries too when it comes to knowing - in principle - how important it is to use evidence of learning to check how effective our teaching has been, to inquire into what we could do differently if students are struggling. We've been quick to embrace digital technology in our schools as (often strapped) budgets allow. Go into many schools now, and the classrooms will look and feel and sound quite different from your own schooling. Go into Auckland schools where they're working hard to improve their students' reading, writing and maths, and there's a real buzz of purposeful activity. Individual schools can show you how performance has improved, and not at the expense of science, social studies, or essential skills like critical thinking and relating to others.
