School boards opposed to the new National Standards have
taken a stance and say they are deferring setting student
achievement targets based on the new benchmarks.
The Government says they are running a union agenda and
children shouldn't be used in a political argument.
The standards are being introduced as a way to find out how
students are progressing in reading, writing and maths, with
reports sent to parents.
Teacher unions oppose the standards and say the benchmarks
don't properly reflect student achievement.
More than 225 boards have formed the Boards Taking Action
Coalition, and today called on others to join them. About
2000 schools are involved in the new standards regime and
targets are required to be set by the end of 2011.
Island Bay School Board chairwoman Jane Forrest and Balmoral
School chairman Simon Mitchell said action was being taken in
the interests of children's education.
"As representatives of our parent communities, we are joining
with our principals and teachers to say that National
Standards are fundamentally flawed, confusing and unworkable
and we have no confidence in them," they said.
"So we will defer setting achievement targets based on
National Standards until these concerns are addressed."
Teacher unions have called for a delay in introducing the
standards so a pilot programme can be run, but the Government
has firmly rejected that and says boards that don't use the
standards will be breaking the law.
Acting education minister Tony Ryall said there was strong
community support for National Standards.
"This is a political action by what appears to be less than
10 percent of schools," he said.
"We have been reasonable, patient and accommodating, and the
vast majority of schools are getting on with implementing the
standards.
Mr Ryall said the Government was determined to life
achievement for all children.
"We can't continue to allow up to one in five children to
leave school without the basic reading, writing and maths
skills that they need."
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