They'll be doing reading, writing and numeracy exams.
I would say this is happening everywhere across the country - except it isn’t, because Porirua College has decided to cancel their literacy exams because the kids won't pass.
They're not ready, the principal says Porirua College hasn't been able to get the kids ready enough to make it a 'positive experience' and so they've just canned the reading and writing exams.
Now, this is not the end of the world. These exams aren’t compulsory this year, they're only compulsory from 2026. This year, the kids can make up the credits through other ways if they want to pass NCEA.
But what I'm really disappointed by is the attitude of just giving up on kids.
These aren't difficult tests designed for third year university students or fully grown adults, they are designed for year 10/year 11 kids to make sure they actually know what they need to know at their year level.
So if the kids fail, it's because they don't know what they're supposed to know for their age. The answer to that particular problem is not to cancel the exam - the answer is to teach the kids what they're supposed to know.
Which begs the question - why is Porirua College not teaching the kids what they’re supposed to know for their age? Does that go some way to explaining why at Porirua College only 28 percent of school leavers got NCEA level 3 in 2022? Do we have a problem here?
Why isn’t the school freaking out that the kids don't know what kids at other schools know?
I've been told that, actually, most teachers and principals in secondary schools support these exams and the complaining and resistance that we’re hearing is coming from a very loud minority. I hope that truly is the case.
Because I'm shocked that these kids don't know what they’re supposed to know, but I'm more shocked that their educators don't seem to think that’s a problem.
Meanwhile, outside of Porirua, other kids up and down the country will sit these exams and will pass because they've been taught what they’re supposed to know - which is how it's supposed to be.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
8 comments:
Tell us again, Heather, why do we have a Ministry of Education? And isn't someone in there supposed to be accountable for schools reaching and maintaining standards? Maybe the CEO/Secretary, Iona Holsted, could enlighten us?
But, of course, she's the one who has only been missing in action for the last eight years!
Heather, I agree to an extent. We need to take a long hard look at the school....but teaching some kids who just are there for other reasons and have no ambition, ethics, personal responsibility and no self motivation is not going to happen. Look at the parents of these soon to be beneficiaries and you will find the other half of the reasons why they can't pass.
I disagree with the school not holding these exams however, you need to fail to move ahead and improve.
I went to Porirua East Primary school in the late 60s - early 70s. The whole class could do arithmetic in standard 2 better than the current syllabus for year 7. Nothing wrong with the kids. I think it's the way marxist sociology has taken over teaching which says that if you come from somewhere like that, you will fail. Also, today there's no incentive to work. It's much easier and profitable just to join a gang or sit on a benefit.
Don't be surprised if teaching kids
" english" becomes racist and all kiwi kids will be taught te reo as the main language. Kids of the future may elect english much in the way as some elect french or german.
I just shake my head at this !
Exams are important for pupils and teachers to measure how well the individual pupils are doing, and thus to identify their needs for further tuition or remedial work.
When we have only 28% pupils with adequate reading/writing skills we know that this is a clarion call that it's just NOT working and needs urgent attention.
As an aside, I cannot recall ever being "taught" to read. Back in my day (So last century..) I was reading before I started school. Mum had given me a large book all about Australian wild life, and I pored over this book and just asked constant questions about all the names etc.
This led to me becoming an avid reader. By the age of 7 I had read all the Biggles books from the local lending library. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the Count of Monte Christo when I was nine.
Kids who can't read and write aren't 'students' - just another stupid Yanklish import. You can barely refer to them as 'pupils'.
Groaan !! Unfortunately you are probably right.
Anon@8.03 you remind me of Thomas Sowell. If you don't know him, spot him on YouTube and listen to his story and beliefs. He's been around a while and seen it all before, and happens to know (IMHO) far more than most of us ever will hope to - that is in several lifetimes!
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