The new school curriculum for Years 11-13 will include more artificial intelligence, Education Minister Erica Stanford has confirmed.
Business and employment leaders spoken to by the Herald have welcomed the announcement of what Stanford has described as “future-focused” new school subjects to be phased in from 2028.
Students will learn about – and use – generative artificial intelligence (AI) in a range of subjects.
“This may include learning about how digital systems work, machine learning, cybersecurity, and digital ethics. We will also investigate a new Year 13 specialist subject on Generative AI for later development,” Stanford told the Herald.
The curriculum changes – which will feature other new subjects such as electronics and mechatronics, computer science and music technology – come alongside the Government’s current proposal to abolish the NCEA system and replace it with a new qualification from 2028.
The announcement – including the AI-specific learning – has been praised by business experts, who say it is a necessary response to a society and workforce that is already tapping into AI.
Job-seeker platform ZEIL said it was a positive step as it was seeing more and more employers looking for such skills.
Spokeswoman Caitlin Langlands said there was a rise in AI-focused internships becoming a key entry point for graduates, for example.
“It’s great to see subject options that reflect the skills employers are looking for: digital fluency, critical thinking and adaptability.
“We’re seeing more and more starter roles in AI – from analytics to integration, replacing traditional IT entry-level jobs,” she said.
“It’s a clear sign that employers are looking for future-ready talent with real-world AI skills.”
BusinessNZ also supported the changes, saying they would help prepare young New Zealanders for the rapidly changing workforce.
Chief executive Katherine Rich said building the necessary skills into the school curriculum would better equip New Zealand’s future workforce, as digital technologies were being adopted by businesses.
“The way business[es] work, produce and compete globally is shifting quickly and will continue to do so alongside the transformation of our educational system.
“By introducing advanced science and technology into our senior secondary qualifications, students get the introduction and tools they need to confidently pursue a career in the field.”
There are several new subjects on the list: Applied mathematics, statistics and data science, materials & processing technology, electronics & mechatronics, computer science and music technology.
Te Mātai i te Ao Māori (Māori Studies) – said to be a working title – is also there, as are sociology, civics, politics & philosophy, English as an additional language and Pacific studies.
Several other subjects will be developed by the new Industry Skills Boards commissioned by the Education Ministry, which will develop and work alongside industry experts, schools and other stakeholders.
Those subjects are: primary industry (under Science), health and wellbeing services, outdoor education, automotive engineering, building and construction, mechanical engineering and infrastructure engineering.
The others are tourism and hospitality, which come under the Social Sciences umbrella.
More information is set to be released in October; a delay that has led to some frustration.
The New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association Te Wehengarua (PPTA) said more information should have been provided with the new subject list and how they were decided on.
“It would have been really helpful to have the descriptors, which explain exactly what the subjects are about, released at the same time as the list,” PPTA president Chris Abercrombie said.
“Not releasing them until [next month] creates a whole lot of uncertainty and anxiety for teachers, students and their whānau.”
Abercrombie praised the increase in subjects supporting te reo Māori. Again, however, more details were needed, he said.
The ministry has also announced new subjects for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – the national curriculum for Māori-medium schools.
They include te ao Māori (the Māori world), te ao whakairo (Māori carving) and tātai arorangi (Māori astronomy).
The Ministry of Education says there will be no formal requirement to use the new curriculum until 2028 for year 11, 2029 for year 12 and 2030 for year 13 students.
The draft ministry-led subjects for years 11 to 13 will be released early next year, in term 1, for feedback and familiarisation.
The industry-led subjects will also be developed early next year once the Industry Skills Boards are in place.
But Stanford says the changes that await in the classroom will be positive.
“When our young people leave school, we want doors to open for them whether they’re going to tertiary study, learning a trade or heading straight into work,” she said.
“These refreshed subjects will provide students with choice, purposeful pathways and opportunities for specialisation that set them up for success.”
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