Minister Takes Education Off Track

The New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) President, Leanne Otene, said today she reiterates her concerns that the Minister of Education is taking education in the wrong direction.

"As I reflect on the curriculum changes over the past two years, and especially what has been removed, downgraded or ignored in the curriculum, I conclude that we are now out of step with the world’s leading countries," she said.

"Research tells us that seven East Asian countries are now looking at incorporating soft skills such as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, collaborative learning and peer assessment into their curriculum frameworks, acknowledging the need for students to develop a range of competencies beyond academic knowledge," she says.

"For us to be pursuing a heavily structured ‘knowledge rich’ curriculum dominated by memorising and surface learning, rather than deep understanding and critical thinking, will leave our young people ill-prepared for a future in which they will be required to creatively problem solve and co-exist with Artificial Intelligence," she said.

"In a recent curriculum focused meeting, our regional presidents reported that their principal members will pause all professional development in the new mathematics curriculum this year, and revisit the subject in March 2026," said Otene.

"The whole curriculum approach needs a complete rethink. There are many issues to consider in respect of the major curriculum changes being presented. The middle of the most demanding term of the school year is not the time to tackle them," she said.

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