A targeted maths acceleration programme aims to help more students achieve confidence in mathematics.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced a trial of an intensive support programme to bring Year 7 and 8 students who are behind in their learning up to the required curriculum level in maths. The trial, set to begin in Term 1 next year, will involve around 2000 students receiving small group tutoring and supervised online tuition for 30 minutes, four times a week.
The programme is part of the Government's "Make it Count" Action Plan, launched after discovering that only 22% of Year 8 students meet the expected standard in maths. The trial will be held nationwide and will cost around $2 million. An evaluation of the trial will inform how to scale it up across the country from Term 3 next year.
The Government's goal is to have 80% of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level by 2030. To achieve this, a new knowledge-rich maths curriculum has been released, and over $30 million has been invested in high-quality resources for teachers and students. This includes workbooks, teacher guidance, and lesson plans for every primary and intermediate school.
The programme is part of a broader effort to lift student achievement and close the equity gap in New Zealand's education system. Other initiatives include professional development for teachers and targeted support for secondary students who may struggle with maths. The Ministry of Education will also intervene earlier and more often to tackle student achievement issues.