The PPTA do not know there are problems in NZ Education
In this article on the return of Partnership Schools in NZ the leader of the PPTA states that:
“What problem are they trying to solve? That has never been really articulated to us.”
Here are some of the problems with the NZ education system at present:
- We have over 10,000 students not enrolled at all.
- In term 3 of 2023 only 47% of students were regularly attending school (40% for Years 9 – 13).
- For Maori and Pasifika it was 34%.
- We have the greatest disparities in the OECD across socio-economic levels.
- The top 30 high schools have their leavers graduating with University Entrance at 87%.
- The bottom 30 schools have their leavers graduating with University Entrance at 3%.
- Principals are frequently in the media bemoaning that lack of quality teachers and also made that clear in the PISA surveys.
- Today we find out that: “Provisional NCEA results show pass rates drop for third year in a row.”
I was involved in the Villa Education Trust in providing two Partnership Schools under the last National/ACT regime. It was a great policy but very poorly implemented (as Seymour would acknowledge) and both Parata and the Ministry were HUGE handbrakes. The Ministry should be completely sidelined on the new policy.
Never-the-less Cognition Education reported that:
“In summary we find and conclude that in both schools [SAMS & MSWA], the management and staff are actively involved in continuous development, and the delivery, of a unique programme of teaching and learning which is based on a comprehensive ‘local’ curriculum that is aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum, and which provides for the personalised needs of priority learners ‘many of whom have been failed by the current education system.
Based on our findings and conclusions, and our experiences in a wide range of New Zealand State schools, Cognition has assessed the local curriculum, teaching and learning within both SAMS and MSWA as being unique and of a ‘special character’ when compared to that provided at ordinary state schools.”
Even the Ministry (most certainly not a friend of Partnership Schools) has had to acknowledge:
“In 2018 the ministry worked with Villa Education Trust and found accelerated learning was happening.”
The PPTA claims that the NZ education system provides choice for NZ children and families. They are right with regards to school choice in Epsom and affluent areas of Wellington and Christchurch. The choice in other areas is that a few succeed and everyone else fails but teachers get paid as if they are all equal. They also deny bulk funding and providing incentives in low socio-economic areas.
Two years ago I resigned for the Villa Education Trust. I am very much open to options with new individuals and groups to establish schools as remarkable as South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland were in their Partnership School years. NZ children/families need great people to step-up!
Alwyn Poole
alwyn.poole@gmail.com
www.innovativeeducation.co.nz
www.alwynpoole.substack.com
www.linkedin.com/in/alwyn-poole-16b02151/