NZPF launches Celebrating Education Week ‘07

NZPF launches Celebrating Education Week ‘07
- New Zealand Principals’ Federation -

The New Zealand Principals’ Federation yesterday launched Celebrating Education Week 2007, an annual celebration of the positive achievements in our primary and secondary schools.

NZPF President Judy Hanna says the week was launched so all the great things being achieved in our schools could be recognised. “We have so much to be proud of in our schools. New Zealand children are creative, innovative and have the opportunity to succeed in all areas of our curriculum. This week gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate the wonderful learning that is happening every single day in our schools.”

Mrs Hanna says some of the many accomplishments in our schools include:

* New Zealand students perform well, on average, in reading.
- Year 5 students in 2001 achieved significantly above the international average.
- 15-year-old New Zealand students are in the group of second-ranked countries, significantly above the international mean.
- NCEA results for 2004 showed that 78 percent of all Year 11 candidates met the literacy requirements of NCEA Level 1.

* We have a high proportion of students who do very well indeed in reading.
- More than 19 percent of New Zealand students performed at the top level of proficiency in reading, compared with the OECD average of ten percent.

* All the studies show that students’ performance in mathematics increases overall from year to year of schooling.
- NEMP showed progress in student achievement between Years 4 and 8, and asTTle showed this continuing to Years 11/12. Students on average reached curriculum level 5 by Years 11/12.

* In an international context, New Zealand students’ performance in mathematics improves relative to the international mean from primary through to middle secondary levels.
- Year 5 students performed at about the international average.
- Year 9 students performed significantly above the international average.

* New Zealand 15-year-olds’ performance in mathematics was within the group of second-highest performing countries, and significantly higher than the OECD mean.

The NZPF also points out that the latest New Zealand research shows that school type and decile make little difference to achievement in reading, and the highest achieving students in New Zealand are comparable to the best in the world, particularly in reading. There is also some evidence that Maori and Pasifika average achievement is increasing, most clearly in middle primary reading, writing and mathematics.

The NZPF asks students, teachers, parents and the wider community to join them in Celebrating Education Week 2007, and expects school communities across the country to celebrate their achievements in their own ways.

ENDS
[422 words]

Note: All data sourced from Student Outcome Overview 2001-2005, published by the Research Division, Ministry of Education, Oct 2006.

© Scoop Media