Faith in standards scheme low: poll

Photo / APN

The more people know about National Standards the less confidence they have they will aid student achievement, a new poll shows.

A year after the mandatory standards in reading, writing and maths were introduced, the union-commissioned study found 42 per cent of respondents who said they were well-informed felt the scheme was fundamentally flawed and should be scrapped entirely.

Furthermore, 46 per cent lacked confidence the standards would raise student achievement.

A third of those polled felt students' achievement would improve under National Standards.

New Zealand Educational Institute president Frances Nelson said the poll indicated the Government should consult educators to iron out flaws in the standards.

Results also showed public understanding of the standards was weak. Half of parents of primary or intermediate-aged children said they knew "not that much" about them.

Last month, 225 schools rebelled, saying they didn't plan to use the standards until the system was reviewed. But when challenged by the ministry, a third of these schools conceded they would implement the standards in full.