New school curriculum delayed as Government responds to teacher concerns

The government has delayed the new senior secondary school curriculum after teacher feedback.

By John Gerritsen of RNZ

The Government has delayed introducing the new senior secondary school curriculum after feedback from teachers.

The change followed warnings the new curriculums were being rushed, and coincided with the Government’s announcement this week that the NCEA qualification would be phased out from 2028.

The Government had originally told schools they would have to teach the new English and maths curriculums for intermediate and secondary schools from the start of next year and new curriculums from other subjects from the start of 2027.

But this week the Ministry of Education dropped that timeline and introduced a staggered start.

The 2027 date would apply only for students up to Year 10. Those in Year 11 would be taught the new curriculums from 2028, Year 12 from 2029 and Year 13 from 2030.

Teachers spoken to by RNZ welcomed the delay, but said work on a new qualification to replace NCEA should wait until after the curriculums were in place.

Association of Teachers of English president Pip Tinning said she was happy the curriculum would be phased in.

“It is really important to allow teachers time to get their heads around the changes and what’s going to need to happen.”

Auckland Secondary Principals’ Association president Claire Amos said teachers were feeling overwhelmed by all of the changes the Government was making.

She said the Government should delay consultation on a new qualification to replace NCEA until work on the curriculums was complete.

“We’re expected to comment on whether we think an assessment framework change is the right change when we have no idea what it will be assessing.

“It’s really hard for us to be consulted on the way we might assess something that is invisible to us at the moment.”

-RNZ