Has a gap in old-school handwriting and spelling tuition contributed to NZ's declining literacy scores?

Christine Braid

By Christine Braid
Community contribution / March 22, 2021

The recently reported decline in student performance in international tests for literacy, science and maths confirmed a view in some quarters that New Zealand’s curriculum is in need of an overhaul.

Notably, the New Zealand Principals’ Federation called for increased leadership and direction from the Ministry of Education. Federation president Perry ...

Cover Supervisor

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 09, 2026

Principal (Level 1) - Glenmorgan State School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Darling Downs

An exciting opportunity exists to broaden your leadership experience as Principal (Level 1) at Glenmorgan State School for Term 3, 2026. Leading a Prep to Year 6 schoo...

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 09, 2026

Business Manager - Jones Hill State School

Department of Education and Training (Queensland)

As Business Manager, you will play a key leadership role in supporting the school's success by overseeing the delivery of corporate services and driving continuous imp...

Teaching - Secondary / Jun 09, 2026

School news / Huge event inspires young to build resilience amid national mental health crisis

Setbacks can inspire success or, in sailing great Jessica Watson's case, a broken mast can spur you on to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe.

School news / Teachers ‘on the front line’ amid rising number of students with disability adjustments

Teachers are grappling with the need to provide a host of educational adjustments to students with disability, with new data showing a clear uptick in children requiring specialised supports so they can best learn and participate in the classroom.

School news / Union demands 24 per cent pay rise for Qld teachers as industrial dispute rolls on

Queensland’s largest education union has insisted on a pay increase of 24 per cent over three years for teachers and school leaders, as its industrial battle with the State Government shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

School news / Teen wellbeing improving after years of post-pandemic concern, major study finds

A major new study suggests teenage wellbeing may finally be recovering after years of concern over the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

School news / NSW voters back union push to get more help for classroom teachers

Teachers demanding more hours to plan for the classroom lessons have been backed by Australian voters across the political spectrum.

School news / Bridge-building event warmly celebrates diversity, friendship and cultural connection

Kids Breaking Bread (KBB) hosted its second event last week, bringing together primary school students from different religions in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for a heartwarming initiative designed to foster friendship and cultural connection among y...

School news / Minns’ education claims don’t match reality for NSW school students, Opposition says

More than 25,000 NSW teachers and school support staff who were previously on uncertain temporary contracts are now in permanent roles, keeping more teachers in the classroom and delivering better outcomes for students across the state, the Minns ...

Opinion / Explicit instruction: what works, what doesn’t, and why it matters

Explicit instruction has become a familiar term in Australian education. But as the saying goes, familiarity can breed contempt.

School news / Empathy, inclusion and confidence: new game to change way kids learn about periods

Menstrual stigma remains a significant issue in Australia. Rooted in a culture of secrecy and poor education, it often leads to widespread embarrassment, “period poverty”, and a delay in seeking medical help for symptoms of conditions like endomet...

School news / Male entrepreneurs are capitalising on rising misogyny in Australian schools: study

A host of male entrepreneurs are essentially profiting off ‘resurgent masculinity’ in Australian schools and sidelining the authority of female teachers in the process, some researchers say.

Comments