Release of dodgy National Standards data will hurt kids & schools

The Government's plan to release National Standards data will inevitably result in schools being ranked and judged on inaccurate data, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

National Standards data, reported for the first time this year, will be published on the Ministry of Education's website in September in the format that schools have submitted it.

"The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, has already stated that the National Standards data is significantly variable," said Mrs Turei.

"It is therefore irresponsible to publish this information knowing that it is inaccurate and cannot be relied upon.

"Many schools doing good work may be undermined by the release of inaccurate information.

"This is not fair to children, teachers or schools," said Mrs Turei.

"It is also disingenuous for Ms Parata to state that schools will not be compared with each other in league table fashion.

"People will seize on whatever data is uploaded on the Ministry's website and make judgment calls based on that data.

"The Green Party believes that National Standards' focus on measurement and labelling runs contrary to good educational philosophies of encouragement and support for children," said Mrs Turei.