11. Question No. 11—EducationERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 11—Education11. ERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statements and actions? Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Education): Yes in the context in which they were given and taken. Erica Stanford: Why did she announce a policy that makes the methods that teachers use to teach numeracy and literacy mandatory when the final Common Practice Model document that outlines what those practices actually are is not due to be published until November—after the election—according to the time line published by the Ministry of Education? Hon JAN TINETTI: As I said when I announced that yesterday to make certain that teachers have enough time to engage in the process from here through to when the final copy comes through but also in the 18 months that they will have to work through that document so that we can make changes as a Government. Erica Stanford: On The AM Show this morning when she was asked if structured literacy would be one of these compulsory methods of teaching New Zealand kids how to read why was she unable to confirm this stating I haven't seen to be fair what has come back from the expert group yet."?Hon JAN TINETTI: Because I haven't seen what has come back from the expert group. Erica Stanford: Can she confirm that the teaching practice for math contained in the draft Common Practice Model that states that "A critical maths [theory develops] critical awareness about wider social environmental political ideological and economic issues [and] recognises the importance of understanding interpreting and addressing issues of power social justice and equity" will be a compulsory method for teaching mathematics? Hon JAN TINETTI: The member has selected a quote from the principles and pedagogical approaches a draft document for teaching professionals—for teaching professionals not politicians. The pedagogical approaches in the Common Practice Model are theoretical frameworks or approaches to teaching informed by evidence on how students learn. Let me put that in layperson's terms: it is putting learning into the context of the students and it will lead to better learning outcomes. Erica Stanford: Can she explain why the Government has now backtracked by mandating the methods teachers must use in literacy and numeracy when the previous Minister of Education Chris Hipkins stated in just September last year "The exact methods that teachers use in order to teach are matters of professional judgment for the teachers. … ultimately the teacher in the classroom is the person who is best positioned to make that [decision]"—effectively refusing to even contemplate mandating teacher practice? Hon JAN TINETTI: Yes I can say that I absolutely agree with the former Minister of Education. The fact that the member thinks that's what the Government is doing here shows she has misunderstood the announcement. Erica Stanford: How can the New Zealand public and parents trust a Government that is mandating or asking an expert to mandate the teaching practice teachers will use to teach literacy and numeracy when those actual practices will not be released until November this year after the election? Hon JAN TINETTI: Because it is about providing clarity about what needs to be taught and when. The announcement is to get teachers on board with this decision to get them to come with the decision. I will notice that I have had a number of teachers who have contacted me to say that this is a good move and they welcome it. Erica Stanford: Supplementary question—SPEAKER: I'm sorry you've run out of supplementaries."