Basic school standards maintained — Minister

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 5

Basic school standards maintained — Minister

PA Wellington Standards in basic school subjects are “generally” being maintained, according to the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar). However, he said that a report by school inspectors on a survey in State schools in the third term last year had shown that in both reading and comprehension the rate of improvement was greater among able pupils than the less able. The difference between the able and less able appeared to be growing wider, he said in an address dealing with the “back to basics” theme during the Budget debate. The survey had also shown that pupils had difficulties with some of the “computational skills.” The main problems were with long division and, to a lesser extent long multiplication. Other areas of concern were art, physical education, and music Everyone knew somebody who could not read or do simple arithmetic and because of this people tended to generalise about standards, Mr Gandar said. The problem was lack of sufficient research ; going far enough back to I determine where standards had moved. The Education Department and teachers were ( “far from complacent” i about those with reading j difficulties. Between 1500 ! and 2000 teachers were I taking part in a course to diagnose indiv-dual reading difficulties in pupils and to provide pro- ; grammes for their needs. There were also the “On

the way to reading” broadcasts produced by the Education Department and Radio New Zealand, said Mr. Gandar. A new- and more suitable mathematics textbook was being prepared and an investigation was under way .into pupils with reading problems without an obvious cause. What worried him about those who advocated a “back to basics” in education was .-the implied criticism of the teaching profession. said Mr Gand' The 48,000 teachers in New Zealand were also concerned about educational standards, not just because they were teachers but because they were or would be parents themselves. People who criticised should go to the schools and talk to teachers and see for themselves what was being done. Mr Gandar quoted from the school inspectors’ re-

port, which said it was hoped that public discussion on the subject would concern- itself more with what needed to be done “to ensure children and young people whose educational standards are less than satisfactory are better equipped to’ face what may well be a very uncertain future. “There is no disagreement with the back-to-basics people that whatever other changes take place, standards in the basics should, if at all possible, improve.” Mr Gandar said, “Let us get on with the basics, let us go forward and build up. They are fundamental to every form of understanding in this country.” Mr Gandar was applauded by Government members, and the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) who, in a radio interview earlier this week, called for more emphasis on the “basics” in education.