Primary and intermediate school children would be tested twice a year as part of a new education plan unveiled by the National Party.
As part of the party’s plan to rewrite the school curriculum, students in years three to right would undergo “standardised, robust assessment” in reading, writing at maths every six months.
All primary and intermediate schools would be taught at least an hour of reading, writing and maths each day, and the curriculum would clearly state what must be taught for every year group in primary and intermediate.
Speaking in the Hutt Valley today, National leader Christopher Luxon said his party would also set a target of 80% of year eight students being “at or above the expected curriculum level for their age” in reading, writing, maths and science by 2030.
“A National government that I lead will aim for every child to get a brilliant education in the state school system, so when they leave, they have the opportunity to lead the life they want,” he said. “But our starting point is three decades of declining student achievement, across all parts of society.”
The education system would be “world class” once again, said Luxon, who spoke of his early experiences at school and how that set him on his current path.
“It’s not a stretch to say that the life I’ve had, and that my family has had, can be traced back to support and encouragement from my parents and my granddad, and from being taught the basics well by some outstanding teachers in the New Zealand state school system,” he said.
Luxon was joined in the Hutt by his party deputy, Nicola Willis, locally based list MP Chris Bishop and education spokesperson Erica Stanford.