It all starts with education

The lack of response from the Ministry of Education to Gaven Martin’s article ( We are having the wrong debate over the teaching of science, Jan 8) is illuminating. It shows that the ministry knows that New Zealand/Aotearoa has a major problem and is condemning all pupils to mediocrity by failing to provide decent quality education in any of the sciences and mathematics.

As Professor Martin points out, this has been going on for two decades and nothing has been done, which happens to coincide with the introduction of NCEA, according to my recollection.

The dumbing down of our education system continues, and will continue until there is enough political will to enforce change.

Minister Chris Hipkins has done a good job with Covid, but where are the scientists that the country is going to rely on going to come from in all fields, not just dealing with epidemics?

Hipkins has to look at his other portfolio, education, and bring those at the top, responsible for this growing debacle, to account and demand changes.

Only science can provide us with the tools we need to cope in the future. It all starts with education.

Graham Dick, Masterton