National party preoccupied with national standards

National party preoccupied with national standards

22 November, 2011

PPTA president Robin Duff is disappointed the National's education policy persists with a battle with primary educators over national standards and neglects secondary education.

"National's education policy is a complete disappointment. After three years as minister we hoped Mrs Tolley would have created coherent education policy based on the best evidence from here and overseas," said Duff.

Duff said policy to impose accountability and publishing secondary school performance information forced schools to compete, which is detrimental to student achievement.

"Sound education policy should address inequality between schools and the poverty within schools that fuels under-achievement," he said.

"We've consistently called for a coherent plan for education. What we're seeing from the two major parties is vague policy."

PPTA wants minister Anne Tolley to re-confirm her commitment to PPTA that national standards will not creep further into secondary schools.

PPTA calls for an end to the ping-pong in education policy and said the strategic educational needs of the country needed to be put before party point scoring.

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