Ministry of Education launches consultation process
Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 23, 2021
The Education Ministry has undertaken the task of refreshing the National Curriculum for Schooling to ensure that it is ‘fit for purpose and is clearer about what children (Tamariki) need to learn at School (Kura).
According to Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti, the National Curriculum will be refreshed over the next five years, retaining its bicultural, inclusive, easier-to-use factors and will be clearer and more consistent for teachers (Kaiako).
“In 2021, we will be working with you on the new framing of both Te Matauranga o Aotearoa and the New Zealand Curriculum to ensure that they are clear what our Tamariki need to learn to be successful now and in the future. An example is the recently announced draft curriculum content for Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories and the future (Te Takanga o Te Wa),” Ms Tinetti, who is also Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister for Women, said.
“We are committed to a collaborative process of co-design and will be seeking input from a diverse range of communities. We want you, the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, to have the chance to be involved in shaping our curriculum so that all our Tamariki can see themselves in their learning and get the learning they need,” she said.
National Curriculum for Schools
The national curriculum is a treasure (taonga) that guides and shapes the learning of every school (Kura). Teachers will weave together the national curriculum with local contexts and the diverse aspirations of Tamariki and their whanau to develop their learning programmes.
Why is the national curriculum being refreshed?
Ms Tinetti said that over the past two years, the Ministry invited feedback on the National Curriculum from educators, Tamariki, parents and whanau.
“Parents and families want more certainty about what their Tamariki will learn in schools and kura, and that the curriculum should also focus on wellbeing, identities, language and culture. Tamariki want to learn from a curriculum that is meaningful to them and their families. Teachers and parents want to be clear about what their Tamariki need to learn, how they are making progress, their strengths and where support is needed,” she said.
Ms Tinetti said that the Ministry wants to have in place a curriculum that strikes a balance between learning that is important nationally and learning that is relevant locally.
Timeline for the refresh
The refresh of the National Curriculum will be phased over five years and will be completed by 2025. It is essential that teachers and Kaiako have the right tools and know how to implement the refreshed curriculum, she said.
“An extensive package of supports, including professional development, will be designed in collaboration with educators so that teachers can successfully put the changes in place. The refreshed Curriculum alongside high quality and relevant resources for teaching and learning will be located on the Online Curriculum Hub replacing Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), and an enhanced Kauwhata Reo. These will make it easier to use and share resources to teach the curriculum,” Ms Tinetti said.
Tamariki and Whanau
She said that Tamariki are at the heart of refreshing the National Curriculum.
“Their voice and diverse needs and aspirations will inform the refreshed curriculum, providing every opportunity for their success, now and in the future. Whanau and Iwi are also valued as important contributors to what schools and kura need to achieve for their children,” Ms Tinetti said.
Source: Ministry of Education, Government of New Zealand
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