Godzone falling in the international education ratings

**Banditbandit** · 4th December 2013, 08:26

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post...t-slide-Parata

So - our wonderful Government is really serious about improving our education ratings is it???

New Zealand's education ranking has fallen from seventh to 18th in science, from 12th to 23rd in maths, and from seventh to 13th in reading, according to a report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) last night

Last completed under the Key Governmetn in 2009 - so all this under National's stewardship ...

**Blackbird** · 4th December 2013, 10:04

Don't think it's the government's fault alone. A percentage of the popluation (kids, parents, educators whatever) seem to think it's ok to take the easy educational options because maths and science is "too hard", then wonder why employment options are limited. It's a bloody sight more complex than blaming John Key's lot

**bogan** · 4th December 2013, 10:27

I think the changes need to be interpreted with the luvy dovy NCEA jargon.

NZ has Acheived Meritable results in this thingo.

**Banditbandit** · 4th December 2013, 11:56

Fuck me ... bottom half of the table - that's not even a pass mark let alone merit ...

And this is not Internal Assessment - this is an external examination ...

**ellipsis** · 4th December 2013, 12:42

...with a large percentage of kids aspiring to be a 'barista' or doing, 'graphic design', and a large percentage of the kids not being able to spell any of those three words and a large part of the remainder being on another planet, I can see why...I also happen to know a hell of a lot of high achieving, thoughtful and hard working youngsters also...

**Blackbird** · 4th December 2013, 12:50

Originally Posted by ellipsis

...with a large percentage of kids aspiring to be a 'barista' or doing, 'graphic design', and a large percentage of the kids not being able to spell any of those three words and a large part of the remainder being on another planet, I can see why...I also happen to know a hell of a lot of high achieving, thoughtful and hard working youngsters also...

Back on the 80's, the company I worked for used to have an annual apprentice intake of up to 20 school-leavers, mainly engineering but a few others. One of the other positions was for an apprentice soignwrotter..... at least, that's what one of the applicants put, I kid you not - still chuckle about it! Just to add to your comment, we took in quite a few kids who didn't get good grades as they didn't really connect with learning at that stage but the school reports said they still had good attitudes. Most of those kids really took off once they saw the value of learning when applied practically. One of them became NZ apprentice of the year in boilermaking and another eventually ended up with a BE (Hons) and running a factory overseas. There's always hope for the ones who want to get on.

**MSTRS:Me** · 4th December 2013, 12:50

So - NZ is failing in the education dept? Nothing to worry about then. It's all the other areas we are failing in that I would be concerned about...
You only have to take a look at what pass for 'the leaders' of the country for answers as to why.

**BoristheBiter** · 4th December 2013, 12:52

It started back in the 80's and probably before.

e.g. We did school "C" maths but for some that was too hard and they failed so some bright spark said we can't have people failing so lets give them an easier test and along came Auckland maths.
a waste of paper as it meant nothing, you couldn't get into uni with it I guess they thought these thickies won't be going anyway.

they have been dumbing down kids since ages ago to make the teachers and figures look good.

Not just this government but all of them over the last 40+ years.

**Blackbird** · 4th December 2013, 13:01

Originally Posted by MSTRS

So - NZ is failing in the education dept? Nothing to worry about then. It's all the other areas we are failing in that I would be concerned about...
You only have to take a look at what pass for 'the leaders' of the country for answers as to why.

True leadership (as opposed to being a good manager) is a really rare commodity, not only in NZ. In my entire working life, I'd only rate 2 people as true leaders - the sort you'd walk over broken glass for time and time again.

**yod** · 4th December 2013, 13:06

*bitch, moan, bitch, moan, bitch, moan, bitch, moan, bitch, moan, bitch, moan*

wasn't sure what topic to choose, just wanted to join in....

thanks

**awa355** · 4th December 2013, 15:26

NZ education on 'right track' - Gluckman This from the PM's science advisor. He must be right, he is a " SIR ".

Also from the same guy,

" He pointed out limitations with such ranking systems, saying it was difficult to make objective comparisons between a diverse range of variables across local situations.

"Limitations notwithstanding, there is no denying PISA’s utility and the importance of understanding our performance trends over time. But it is just as important to understand that learning contexts are notoriously difficult to capture and that context matters, especially when it comes to devising mitigating strategies an appropriate interventions.

“There is no quick fix for raising student performance; success is the product of multiple internal and external factors, and the results of the National Monitoring survey (NMSSA), announced last week, have given us an important edge in these efforts," he said."

I have no idea what he said, but sounds really important.

I can remember a teacher back in 1961, saying " Those of you who fail, will be back in this class next year, and by God, you wont fail a second time ".

**MisterD** · 4th December 2013, 17:18

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

Last completed under the Key Governmetn in 2009 - so all this under National's stewardship ...

Yeah right. Consider that the OECD said that Britain's likewise poor performance "couldn't possibly" be blames on their current administration, who came to power like a year after our Blueteam govt.

This is just what happens when celebrating excellence and success becomes taboo.

**Motu** · 4th December 2013, 17:28

Originally Posted by BoristheBiter

It started back in the 80's and probably before.

e.g. We did school "C" maths but for some that was too hard and they failed so some bright spark said we can't have people failing so lets give them an easier test and along came Auckland maths.
a waste of paper as it meant nothing, you couldn't get into uni with it I guess they thought these thickies won't be going anyway.

We've been dumb forever - back in the '60's we called it Trade Maths, just basic 3rd form maths, arithmetic and some very basic algebra. Not that we did any Trade Maths, usually we did homework for the next period, actually we only did homework for one subject, and ignored the rest. There was no intention of going to uni, why the hell would I want to do that?

**mashman** · 4th December 2013, 17:39

Originally Posted by MisterD

Yeah right. Consider that the OECD said that Britain's likewise poor performance "couldn't possibly" be blames on their current administration, who came to power like a year after our Blueteam govt.

This is just what happens when celebrating excellence and success becomes taboo.

Really? You're gonna blame the left or the right? They've fucked it up between themselves over the years. Education is a business now, not something that should be given every resource it requires. I mean why bother teaching anyone anything.

waaaaaaaa waaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaa... that has next to fuck all to do with it. Thing is though, excellence and success is what's taught at school, albeit a bit too PC at times. On those grounds, there's more to it than petty envy's.

**BoristheBiter** · 4th December 2013, 17:39

Originally Posted by Motu

We've been dumb forever - back in the '60's we called it Trade Maths, just basic 3rd form maths, arithmetic and some very basic algebra. Not that we did any Trade Maths, usually we did homework for the next period, actually we only did homework for one subject, and ignored the rest. There was no intention of going to uni, why the hell would I want to do that?

Yep, and now everyone does it.