Labour’s announcement today shows it has no plan of its own to lift achievement and the only way to keep education results moving in the right direction is to stick with National’s reforms, National’s Education spokesperson Erica Stanford says.
“National’s plan is working. After years of decline under Labour, achievement is finally moving in the right direction because we have focused on the basics and introduced evidence-based reforms in classrooms.
“Labour’s policy mirrors National’s screen use policy announced four weeks ago and is an admission Labour knows National is on the right track. But copying parts of our plan is not the same as having a plan of its own.
“Parents and kids need a National Government with a clear plan to lift achievement in schools and a proven record of delivering results. They can’t afford a Labour Party borrowing from National while refusing to back our full plan.
“Early evidence shows our plan is working. Phonics results have improved from 36 to 58 per cent, there have been statistically significant gains in Year 6 maths and writing, and new PAT results show primary and intermediate students making the equivalent of four months’ extra progress in maths between 2024 and 2026.
“There is still a long way to go, but the progress is real. The risk now is putting that progress in jeopardy with a Labour Party that has no plan to lift achievement and no commitment to stay the course.
“If Labour now accepts National was right on limiting devices in classrooms and keeping mobile phone restrictions, Chris Hipkins should tell parents whether he will also keep the hour a day of reading, writing and maths.
“National will keep building on the reforms that are lifting achievement, including structured literacy, structured maths, clearer curriculum, consistent assessment, an hour a day of reading, writing and maths, and sensible rules around screens.
“Labour had six years and achievement went backwards. Now, when results are finally improving, Labour’s answer is to borrow from National while refusing to back the full reforms that are making a difference.
“National has spent three years delivering the biggest transformation of our education system in decades and early results are positive. The choice is clear – stick with National and keep lifting achievement, or put that progress at risk with Labour.”
