The party’s education spokesperson Ginny Andersen announced this afternoon it would also create an independent body, the Independent Council for Curriculum and Assessment (ICCA), to lead decisions on what was taught in schools and how it is assessed.
She said the updated English and maths curriculums would continue, but all others would be paused for a year while experts figured out what should go ahead.
It said the NCEA, due to be phased out from 2028 to 2030, would stay until 2029 while the new curriculum and assessment body considered it.
“Whether governments are left or right, curriculum and assessment decisions should be guided by evidence, educational expertise and what will improve learning,” she said.
“Governments will continue to set the broad goals and expectations for our education system. That democratic accountability will remain. But detailed curriculum and assessment design should be led by expert educators and assessment specialists, not rewritten according to the preferences of individual ministers.”
Teacher union the Educational Institute said educators would welcome Labour’s support for an independent body because it would stop curriculum instability becoming the norm.
“The rushed and sweeping curriculum changes since the coalition government assumed office in 2023 have created significant turbulence for teachers, school leaders, ākonga, and their whānau,” the union’s president Ripeka Lessels said.
“Unless we have a cross-party framework for curriculum reform and we repeal the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Act, the curriculum can be overhauled at any time and at the whim of whichever political party is in power.”
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