New Zealand's bad results in an international maths and science test are being blamed on ability-grouping in classrooms and the previous government's national standards in reading, writing and maths.
Scores for New Zealand nine and 13-year-olds fell in the study, with the 13-year-olds recording their worst results ever.
Maths and science specialists say it is worrying and the government says there is a trend of long-term decline.
Here's RNZ education correspondent, John Gerritsen
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