Alarming results have come from a pilot of new literacy and numeracy assessments for NCEA. The new assessments are scheduled to be introduced as part of the Ministry of Education’s review of the NCEA system.

Just one third of the pilot students passed the writing assessment, and only two thirds passed each of the reading and numeracy assessments.

In this short policy paper, Dr Michael Johnston, says that the pilot demonstrates an urgent need to reform the teaching of literacy and numeracy in New Zealand’s schools.

Dr Johnston also recommends a way ahead for the new standards, one that intends to recognise political reality while making it possible still to implement a robust credential for literacy and numeracy.

But perhaps the most important recommendation is for structured literacy and numeracy teaching to be systematically implemented in New Zealand’s schools.