A new maths acceleration programme aims to help students in need.
Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced a targeted acceleration programme for students struggling with maths, aiming to bring 3000 Year 7 and 8 students up to the required curriculum level. The $3 million intensive trial will involve small group tutoring and supervised online tuition for participating schools across New Zealand.
The 12-week trial will take place in Term 1 and 2, with funding provided for staff involved based on the number of children taking part. An evaluation of the programme's success will inform how to scale it up nationwide by next year.
According to Ms Stanford, the programme is part of a broader effort to lift student achievement and close the equity gap in New Zealand's education system. The government aims to ensure all primary school students have access to explicit teaching through structured mathematics and a clear, detailed curriculum based on the science of learning. With 65,000 young Kiwis starting school each year, Ms Stanford stresses the importance of providing them with a strong foundation for success.