Anne Tolley MP National Party Education Spokeswoman

25 August 2008

Note to Metiria: Please keep up

For the second time in less than 24 hours, National Party Education spokeswoman Anne Tolley is welcoming the opportunity to restate National's determination to lift education standards to ensure our children are better equipped for the future.

"National standards will give every child access to the best teaching methods for literacy and numeracy. We want more teachers to be taking advantage of the best practice techniques that many of our most successful schools are already using."

Mrs Tolley is responding to claims by the Greens' Education spokeswoman, Metiria Turei, who wrongly states that National will introduce national testing as opposed to national standards, and that National's policy will result in the 'dumbing down of teaching'.

"That is utter nonsense. I am mystified by Ms Turei's claims. We have explained our policy many times to the sector over the past three years and they know we have not proposed national testing.

"We have to do more to make sure every child learns the basics required to contribute to the community, the country, and the economy. It's time for every school to use the best methods.

"Our national standards policy has been well received by school principals and teachers because it is flexible, and builds on the best-practice methods that are already getting good results."

ENDS

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