Crisis of Confidence in National Standards Deepens

Crisis of Confidence in National Standards Deepens

The Government needs to immediately engage with principals and teachers organisations to address a serious crisis of confidence in National Standards, education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa said today.

NZEI President Frances Nelson says the Auckland Primary Principals Association’s (APPA) call for a boycott of any further training around the implementation of the Standards reflects the mood of principals nationally. Earlier this month, an NZEI survey of principals found 94% had concerns about the Standards, with a large majority lacking confidence in implementing them in spite of enormous pressure from the Government to do so.

The APPA letter to its members and Boards of Trustees says principals had “very serious concerns” about the quality of training, and called the Standards “irreconcilably flawed, confused and unworkable”.

Frances Nelson says these are serious charges from a group of the country’s most senior professional leaders.

“The Government’s failure to engage in genuine consultation with principals and teachers at any stage in this process is coming back to haunt them. It is not too late to achieve positive changes for teaching and learning, but the first step must be respectful engagement with those who are charged with leading the change.”

ENDS

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