Secondary schools are facing a rocky start to the school year as promised resources for the new Years 9 and 10 English and Maths curricula have failed to materialise, according to the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua.
PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says teachers are facing an extremely frustrating and stressful start to the school year due to the lack of preparation materials for the new learning content, which started rolling out this term.
“Great resources that are well developed and implemented smoothly are so crucial, especially with the amount of new content the Minister has introduced.”
Teachers had been assured that support materials for both subjects would be available by mid-January. However, the only official Maths resource currently on offer is Education Perfect, an online platform that Abercrombie says many teachers have mixed feelings about.
“Education Perfect programmes are entirely online. Students are presented with explanations and examples via slides, which means more time in front of screens,” says Abercrombie.
“That’s not necessarily helpful for them in the long run. We are hearing that many teachers and students haven’t even received login details yet.
“Given that this is the only resource being provided, its rollout – or non-rollout – is totally unacceptable.”
Adding to teacher concerns, Education Perfect has recently advertised for additional staff to help develop and adapt its programme, fuelling doubts about its readiness. “So, they are clearly still in the process of staffing it – which doesn’t inspire confidence,” Abercrombie noted.
The PPTA says the new English curriculum resources provided so far amount to recycled professional development materials focused on literacy, which represent just one aspect of the new, broader curriculum.
Rubrics, tools teachers rely on to assess and track student progress, were also promised but have not been delivered.
“Rather than being able to hit the ground running, teachers are being forced to scramble resources together,” Abercrombie says.
“Of course, they will do their best to make it work for students. But it seems like the whole process has been rushed and poorly thought through. The failure to deliver what was promised is totally unacceptable.”
He says students deserve much better, especially Year 9s who might be facing a new qualification system in two years.
“Failing to resource the new English and Maths curricula does not create the firm foundation they need. We urge the Government to do better.”
