Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:659;Page:8379] 
11.  
ALLAN PEACHEY (National—Tamaki) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: When will national standards be introduced into English medium schools for years 1-8 and why? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 This Government is not prepared to accept so many students leaving our education system unable to read write and do maths anywhere near the level they need to succeed. National standards will be introduced into primary and intermediate schools next year and schools will report progress against them to parents in plain English at least twice a year. 
Allan Peachey 
: What reports has the Minister seen in support of national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have had many teachers principals and members of the public tell me that they support national standards. One example of support that I received last week said: “It is important to let you know that not all principals support the present frenzy against national standards. There are colleagues out there”— 
Moana Mackey 
: Now read out the emails from all the other principals! 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: —I know that the Opposition does not want to hear this but there are principals who support it—“who feel the same way but raising your head above the parapet in these times is a risky act.” I am confident that most schools around the country are happy to get on with implementing national standards because they are worried that so many of our New Zealand kids are falling through the cracks. 
Allan Peachey 
: What reports has the Minister seen from educational organisations suggesting that they may take industrial action over national standards next year? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have seen a report suggesting just that and I find it really disappointing that the unions want to stop parents from getting information about how their kids are doing. This Government is on the side of parents and on the side of kids. We want them to do well in our schools we need them to do well in our schools and national standards will help them do that. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Tena koe Mr Speaker. Kia ora tatou. Is she concerned that whereas Pakeha children scored an average of 547 in the Programme for International Student Assessment for science Maori children scored an average of 473 and Pasifika children scored an average of 441 and what action will she be taking in English medium schools to address the evident failure of those institutions to invest in the achievement of Maori and Pasifika students? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Of course we are concerned and that is why we are introducing national standards. They will provide an excellent tool for schools to identify and support those students who are not achieving. That party sitting over there had 9 years in Government to do something and all it did was talk while the gap between the top and the bottom got bigger. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What is the name of one of the academics or assessment experts she told the House last week who supports both national standards and her Government’s implementation methods? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Professor Hattie invented them so he should support them.