It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals, the NZ Labour Party says.
“It looks like Erica Stanford is trying to bring back a method of testing that has failed students before,” Labour education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.
“This sort of under the table decision-making without thorough consultation with schools is concerning. Quietly expanding it to year 9s and 10s also raises the question – what evidence is she basing these decisions on?
“I also share the Principals Federation President’s concern that an offshore provider may not meet the needs of our curriculum and children.
“Having our tamariki undergo standardised testing from a young age only fuels anxiety and stress for students and parents. It pits students against each other and only reinforces in children who don’t have the same out-of-school support that they’re not clever, or are behind other students.
“This comes as the Government also proposes to cut resource teachers in literacy and Māori and has made a major botch-up of a school lunch programme. I urge the Minister not to pile on further pressure or reinforce negative beliefs in students who are already struggling.
“Any new testing must be transparent; schools should be consulted, and the failed experiment of national standards should remain in the past,” Prime said.
However, Radio NZ reports Education Ministry curriculum centre acting deputy secretary Pauline Cleaver said in a statement it had decided that its own test, e-asTTle, was not up to the job.
“We have investigated the long-term use of e-asTTle. What that showed is that the tool had technical limitations and that the content does not align to current curriculum expectations. For these reasons further investment in e-asTTle wasn’t viable and instead we are looking at the option of a new tool to meet our needs in assessing student progress against the updated national curricula,” she said.
“We want a tool that will have many of the best features of e-asTTle but will also be fit for the future with the benefits of up-to-date technology and assessment tasks. The RFP is seeking a national or international provider to work with us to deliver a dual language tool for assessment and aromatawai that caters for both English and te reo Māori.”