Curriculum Core to Kids’ Success Say Principals

New Zealand Principals' Federation

Curriculum Core to Kids’ Success Say Principals

A gathering, hosted by the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF), of 120 leaders of regional school principal associations has called for the school curriculum to again take centre stage in schools.

‘There has been much instability and uninvited disruption imposed on schools in recent years,’ said Philip Harding, NZPF President.

‘This has meant that our internationally-acclaimed curriculum has taken a back seat to things like national standards, league tables, fighting off threats to increase class sizes, privatisation of public schools, Novopay and the like,’ he said.

‘We are genuine about lifting the achievement of all children, including our Pacific Island children and Māori children many of whom are not yet achieving their potential and these distractions will not help us do that,’ said Harding. It is time for the profession to take the lead now, launch our own professional development initiative to lift Māori achievement and shift the emphasis back to the curriculum and kids’ learning,’ he said.

‘Today principals across the country have made it clear that they want an end to the relentless distractions and the current misguided and dangerous direction for education. They want the freedom to re-focus on what parents most want for their children which is for them to progress in every subject as well as socially, physically, culturally and emotionally,’ he said.

‘Parents have high trust in teachers and want to know that teaching professionals, not political whims, are directing their children’s learning,’ said Harding.

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