National Standards
Disabled children 'front of queue' for government funding
Children with disabilities and behavioural problems are at the front of the queue for increased government funding, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. Audio
Back to school: Whetu Cormick
Many schools re-open this week. And we're hearing constantly about the teacher shortage, particularly in Auckland. There are many reasons for that - including the status of the teaching profession… Audio
Insight: A Whole Year of Documentaries
The Insight team look back over a year of programmes and revisit some to see if anything has changed. Audio
Weak parental support for national standards - survey
Fewer than half of parents support the national standards in reading, writing and maths - and only five percent consider the controversial benchmarks when choosing a school for their children.
National standards ditched by government
The government has ignored Treasury advice by ditching the national standards in reading, writing and maths before developing a replacement.
Govt ditches national standards from next year
Schools will instead be expected to report children's progress and achievement in all areas of the curriculum using whatever measures they choose. Audio
Parents split on removal of National Standards
Parents picking up their kids from Albany Primary School on Auckland's North Shore were split on whether they thought the dropping of National Standards is a good thing. Video, Audio
National Standards 'didn't lift achievement' - education professor
Peter O'Connor, Professor of Education at the University of Auckland, says National Standards did not do what the previous National Government thought they'd do. Video, Audio
Teachers, principals blame standards for reading drop
Teachers and principals are blaming the national standards in reading, writing and maths for a sudden drop in 10-year-olds' scores in an international reading test.
Teachers delighted by end of National Standards
National Standards are likely to be scrapped under the new Labour-led government. Principals and teachers are delighted, but it might take some time for school trustees to adjust. Audio
Why we should care about music education
Conductor James Judd is a vocal advocate for music education for all. It’s been a topic of much discussion around the election, with the consensus being arts and music is being pushed aside because of… Audio
National standards pass rates plateau as distress rises
The number of children passing the national standards in reading, writing and maths has dropped slightly, new figures show.
Govt wants better writing and maths for Year 8s
The Government wants to see children's writing and maths improve drastically, following a slow down in achievement rates. It wants 80 percent of Year 8s reaching the national standards in the two… Audio
Teachers still doubt national standards
It has been seven years since national standards were introduced, yet they still don't have the support of many teachers and principals, a survey finds.
Little support for national standards from teachers
New research shows just one third of teachers support educational national standards, which were introduced six years ago. Audio
Teachers' judgements of national standards 'lack dependability'
Teachers' judgements of national standards cannot be relied on and some children's results might be wrong, a government-funded report says. Audio
Resistance to national standards computer system
Groups representing teachers and principals say distrust is slowing the uptake of a computer system designed to make the national standards in reading, writing and maths more accurate. Audio
National standards results improve
The number of children meeting national standards in reading, writing and maths has increased slightly but a report warns the results lack dependability.
Report says National Standards results "lack dependability"
An official report has again raised serious doubts about the accuracy of children's national standards' results. Audio
Northland principals say standards data dubious
Northland principals say national standards data showing falling achievement levels are unreliable - but may reflect deepening poverty in the region. Audio