Truancy, lack of basic education challenging
OPINION: More of our kids are starting school unable to concentrate or manage basic tasks like getting a book out of their school bag, teachers say. Too much screen time, anxiety and busy parents who find it easier to do things for their children than teach them basic skills means new entrants have to be taught how to focus on a task before teachers can move onto reading. Are we facing a new social crisis and what can be done about it? An MP from each side of the House gives their views.
Early childhood education is so important, and as a working mum of a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old I worry all the time about whether my kids are having too much screen time or missing important life lessons.
But when I meet with early childhood education (ECE) and kindergarten teachers in my electorate of Manurewa, they point to the skills that toddlers have now that they would never have ever expected 10 years ago: digital literacy, the ability to find answers to questions online, and relationship skills to maintain connections with family in other cities via technology.
Kids arrive at school at different stages in their learning and development, and this is not new. But, as a parent, I want to know that my kids have access to the same strong foundations in their education as their peers.
That’s why this Government announced last month two new strategies to improve outcomes for Kiwi kids in maths, literacy, communication, te reo matatini, and pāngarau. The Literacy, Communication, and Maths Strategy and
Hei Raukura Mō Te Mokopuna will ensure opportunities for all young people and particularly for those who have been underserved in the past by tackling inequality in our system.
And for teachers, confidence comes with knowledge, so there will be a stronger focus on these subjects in Initial Teacher Education. There will also be professional support considered for teachers to help make maths and literacy easier and more enjoyable for more children and young people.
These strategies draw on domestic and international best practice and expert advice.
They also cater to the New Zealand context – we know our Māori rangitahi in particular are being left behind, and this strategy will ensure they receive the support they need.
We’ve included the perspectives of Māori and Pacific people, unions and professional associations, employers and industry representatives, members of the disability sector, and expert advisory groups such as the NZC Curriculum Voices Group.
This Government is investing heavily in medium to long-term curriculum development that is evidence based and world leading. Budget 2021 saw one of the biggest boosts to curriculum funding ever seen.
Yes, technology has altered the landscape in which our tamariki grow up and learn, but we can use it to our advantage, rather than our detriment.
New Zealand is facing huge challenges, such as a cost of living crisis where the basic everyday essentials are harder to afford, and an increase in crime, with ram raids and gang violence appearing in the news on a regular basis.
But another issue is silently occurring and we might not see the full impact from it for a few years – which is that our young Kiwis are not achieving in school.
In fact it’s worse than that, some aren’t even showing up. In term 2 of 2021, 40% of children were not attending school regularly – a 10% increase since 2015.
The Government can ban fizzy drinks in schools and it can replace coal boilers, but if children aren’t showing up to school and not getting an education, then New Zealand will be worse off.
Attendance at school and student achievement are directly linked, and our achievement standards are slipping as a result of poor attendance.
A 2020 Unicef report found that only 64.6% of 15-year-olds in New Zealand have basic proficiency in reading and maths, turning that around, a staggering 35.4% –
over a third of 15-year-olds – struggle to read and write. This is a grim picture of the plummeting education standards in New Zealand.
The evidence is clear – we have a major literacy and numeracy problem on our hands. Unfortunately, we won’t see the consequences of this until it’s too late, which is why we need to act now.
New Zealand has declined on the international rankings in maths, English and science and we will never be able to improve if we don’t make headway on our growing truancy crisis.
Parents certainly have a role to play, and there needs to be an effort from them to ensure that their child is attending school regularly and getting the most out of it.
The Ministry of Education also needs to come to the party to understand why the decline in attendance and performance is occurring.
The ministry should have schools publish their attendance weekly so that there is proper scrutiny on each school and work can be done to fix the problem.
We also need to invest in our teachers and take time to develop their skills so that we can provide a world-class education and our students can compete with those around the world.
Our kids deserve the best, and education is the greatest opportunity provided to all New Zealanders to reach their potential, regardless of background, because it is the foundation of our nation’s future prosperity.