Call for National Standards trial

National Standards should be given a trial run before being introduced, says the primary teachers union.

The NZEI bus is in Taranaki with its roadshow, reiterating union concerns at the Government's controversial introduction of national educational standards to all primary schools.

A petition asking for a trial of the standards to ensure they will be good for children's learning has collected 10,000 signatures. It will be presented to Parliament on March 31.

Yesterday, NZEI representatives talked to parents and teachers at Omata and Central School before holding community forums at Central and Waitara East schools.

They were also at Huatoki Plaza asking locals to sign the petition.

Today they're in Stratford and Waverley.

Schools aren't opposed to national standards because most of them conduct a range of assessments anyway, says NZEI spokesperson Stephanie Mills.

"I think the longer-term problem is the Government thinks National Standards will solve the problem of underachieving but it's only about identification it.

"Unless resources are there, in support of professional development, in support of teacher aids and in support of specialist teachers, schools are going to be in exactly the same position they are in now."

Local NZEI representative Chris Dalliston says many parents didn't know what the standards were, and trusted teachers in their call for a trial.

If the Government didn't support a trial the Inglewood Primary school teacher believed they were likely to alienate many voters.

"It wasn't trialled in the UK and they got it wrong, it wasn't trialled in the US and they got it wrong. Neither of those countries are in the top five for literacy and numeracy but we are and we are saying we want to make sure we get it right."

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