Concerns raised about new teacher maths requirement

Concerns are being raised new maths requirements for primary school teachers will deter applicants and don't make sense.

The government has announced it is bringing forward the 'Make It Count' maths curriculum for years 0 to 8 that will now begin in Term 1 2025.

It was brought forward over concerns about achievement rates.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon said recent data showed around 50,000 children in Year 8 did not meet their expected benchmarks in 2023. Although the opposition has questioned his figures.

The changes included going forward, any candidates for teacher training programmes would need to pass NCEA Level 2 maths.

In a snap hui between the Teaching Council and ITE providers on Tuesday, a number of issues were raised, including:

• That NCEA level 2 maths was not the mathematics knowledge required for primary teaching. The assumption that this maths knowledge would make any difference to what and how primary teachers teach maths was not based on any evidence.
• This requirement exceeds the University Entrance requirement of 10 credits in maths at Level 1 or above. This requirement would have an impact on enrolment numbers and would likely deter otherwise sound teaching candidates from applying or gaining admission to teacher education.
• This requirement assumed that secondary school students would have decided on a teaching career by the end of Year 11 and would thus have more than the UE entry requirements in maths.

Teacher Education Forum executive chair Dr Rosina Merry said the changes did not make any sense.

"The kind of notion around having a higher entry level will then mean, you know, accumulate into better outcomes for graduate teachers doesn't really make that much sense, there is not a lot of evidence that shows that it will make a difference."

Merry said the changes could actually deter good candidates from applying in first place, which would only exacerbate the current staffing shortage.

"Based on our current entry criteria, which is still very robust, and there are many applicants that don't get through, if we lift the level even more, it would pretty much decimate a lot of Initial Teacher Education programmes in the primary sector, it will definitely have a huge impact on the teaching workforce." she said.

TEFANZ said evidence from Ireland and Australia suggested this kind of change did not increase the quality of mathematics teaching, but rather significantly and negatively impacted teacher diversity.

It also had concerns about the speed of change and the limited time and opportunity for robust consultation.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government was working with the Teaching Council to ensure support was provided for students currently in Years 11 and 12.

"The Teaching Council will be putting in place bridging programmes, to make sure that those students who still want to get into ITE over the next few years are able to do so."

While visiting a primary school in Wellington with the prime minister, Stanford said it was a realistic expectation that teachers felt confident doing Level 2 maths.

"You've got to remember that there are some Year 8 students, and probably many at this school, who are actually working many years ahead of where they are, and we actually want our teachers to be confident teaching, and accelerating those kids as well."