Principals take their boycott back to school

School resumed yesterday, and Otago primary and intermediate principals returned to their schools with a renewed focus on how to tackle the Ministry of Education's National Standards.

Term 2 concluded with the New Zealand Principals' Federation conference in Queenstown.

At the conference, about 550 primary and intermediate principals from around New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to oppose National Standards and boycott the training sessions.

The federation represents more than 2300 principals, more than half of principals from the education sector.

The question for many is what happens now?The president of the Otago Primary Principals Association, Jenny Clarke, said the association and the federation would seek a revision of the National Standards system, in partnership with the sector and the minister.

As a result of the motions approved at the federation conference, many Otago principals would continue to boycott training and others who had been actively working to implement the standards were going to "mark time" until there was a clearer direction, she said.

At the very least, they would wait until an improved National Standards system, preferably one that would be trialled, was implemented.

"There are many mixed and unclear messages from the minister about the intentions of National Standards, from raising student underachievement, to improving the quality of teaching, which is disappointing coming from someone who is encouraging us to communicate with her.

"Many principals feel the National Standards initiative will compromise the highly valued and internationally recognised revised curriculum, and threatens the richness of the curriculum that is currently offered to primary school children."

Mrs Clarke said there was strong support to take action with regard to the National Standards initiative because there was resounding agreement across New Zealand the National Standards would not deliver the outcomes as intended.

"In a letter to our association in April, Mrs Tolley acknowledged 80% of students in New Zealand experience success in our education system, and this reflects well on our teachers and schools.

"She goes on to say the Government wants to ensure the system also meets the needs of the remaining 20%.

"I know that principals across Otago and New Zealand also have the same desire.

Yet, we are united in the view that the introduction of National Standards is not the best or necessary way to achieve this goal.

"This is a case of the same medicine for all ailments being expected to cure the concern, and we know that is not possible or even likely."

Mrs Clarke said principals had some constructive ideas and practical ways to address the issue of underachievement.

But the sector was disappointed Mrs Tolley had not engaged in meaningful discussion before embarking on a "very expensive initiative that will not do what the minister most wants it to do".

The concept of plain language reporting, and knowing exactly the achievement and progress of each child, was an appropriate expectation, Mrs Clark said.

But it could be achieved without the introduction of National Standards, she said.