A re-elected National Government will remain committed to ensuring every child in New Zealand gets the best possible start in life so they can reach their potential and build a prosperous future, National Leader Christopher Luxon says.
“We have made tremendous progress in transforming our education system over the past three years. We have introduced an hour a day of reading, writing and maths, structured literacy and structured maths, banned phones in classrooms, introduced more resources for teachers and better reports for parents,” Mr Luxon says.
“We are starting to see results. The latest Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) data shows a significant improvement in mathematics, and improvements in reading comprehension and vocabulary.
“But the job is not done yet. Today we are announcing that, if re-elected, National will expand the Year 7-10 Maths Acceleration Programme by an additional 40,000 students over the next three years to reach 128,000 students.”
Trialed in 2025, the Maths Acceleration Programme saw students make close to two years progress in just 12 weeks.
“Maths is an important life skill which opens doors to jobs, qualifications and a more prosperous future so we want every child to gain those skills.”
If re-elected, National’s Plan for Kiwi Kids will:
- Introduce a $1,500 Baby Boost to kickstart KiwiSaver.
- Introduce a School Start check for every child.
- Develop clear milestones throughout ECE and reporting to parents.
- No screens in ECE and limit device use in Years 1-3 and introduce age-appropriate limits for older primary students.
- Keep teaching the basics brilliantly – one hour of reading, writing and maths every day, and expand the Maths Acceleration Programme.
- Keep the phone ban in schools.
- More warm, dry classrooms.
- Keep young people in school until the end of Year 11.
- Set consistent school start and finish dates.
- Replace NCEA.
- Have learning support coordinators in all schools and more teacher aides.
- Ban under-16s from social media.
“Under our plan for Kiwi kids every child will get the best possible start in life. By sticking to National’s plan, we will deliver a future where children get the education they need to set them up for success, and an economy that has been responsibly managed, so they are not burdened with our debt.
“Labour will undo the progress we have made in education by removing the requirement to teach one hour a day of reading, writing and maths, scrapping twice yearly assessments in Primary Schools and undoing NCEA changes.
“This election there is a clear choice between sticking with National’s plan for a more secure future, no matter the stage of your life, with a growing economy, less debt, more jobs and higher wages.
“Or going back to Labour – propped up by the Greens, Te Pati Māori and TOP – who will undo the progress New Zealand has made over the last three years, by spending recklessly, meaning more borrowing and higher taxes for Kiwis.”
