Although the government has already invested considerable resources into implementing NS it should not be dismissive of attempts to slow the process of implementation (as aforementioned it has shown flexibility over deadlines for reporting) and if need be it should be open to the prospect of repealing the Education (National Standards) Amendment Act 2008. The future of New Zealand’s education system and more importantly the schooling lives of New Zealand children need to be given the attentive and critical thought which is backed by rigorous evidence based tools that they deserve.
This report recommends the following:
- That the Government continues to systematically track the progress of NS implementation using the evaluative framework developed in particular the National Standards: School Sample Monitoring & Evaluation Project. If the government’s affirmations of NS are correct then the evidence should speak for itself.
- That the National Standards: School Sample Monitoring & Evaluation Project be supplemented with other research looking at broader trends in NS implementation impacting student motivation, curriculum development and professional development of teachers.
- That the Government undertake a process of consultation that genuinely engages the education sector and parents on the best way to formulate a policy that impacts on student achievement. Rather than a consultation process to simply determine how NS should be implemented the option for abandoning standards should be genuinely available and open for discussion.
- That the government allow for voluntary use of NS whilst the standards are re-evaluated through consultation and the findings of the National Standards: School Sample Monitoring & Evaluation Project and other research becomes available. Ascription is a less coercive means of policy diffusion amongst the education sector and mitigate opposition at the site of implementation.