Educators’ concern at political curriculum control provision

In a submission on the Education and Training (Systems and Reform) Amendment Bill, NZCEO chief executive Dr Kevin Shore noted that curriculum statements could be amended directly by the Minister of Education.

The bill consolidates current foundation curriculum policy statements and national curriculum statements into a single type called “curriculum statements”.

It provides for the Secretary for Education to review curriculum statements at least once every five years and report to the Minister on any changes he or she recommends to those statements. Under the bill, the Minister can make changes to curriculum statements after having regard to the Secretary’s recommendations (if any) and other factors.

Dr Shore expressed concern that this could lead to the possible politicisation of the curriculum.

“This would reduce the practical voice of boards, teachers, parents and special character communities in curricular decisions potentially resulting in risks to special character that are not considered including with the religious education curriculum,” he said.

Best practice for the five-year reviews would see strategies for consultation with, and feedback from, school communities and the sector, Dr Shore said. This feedback would be listened to and included in recommendations for change alongside other external evidence and international data.

The NZCEO proposed amending the bill to “condition ministerial amendments on completion of the relevant . . . review, except for defined urgent cases with published reasons and a sunset/review clause”. It also recommended a “mandatory consultation schedule with specified stakeholders (boards, proprietors of State integrated schools, Māori medium bodies, teacher unions, parent groups) for any amendment proposed by the Minister”.

The NZCEO submission supported several provisions of the bill, but expressed reservations about stronger system responses proposed when a school is identified as “of serious concern”.

“APIS [the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools]/NZCEO would view a responsive set of strategies that support schools where there are serious concerns as appropriate and, in principle, a good thing if it supports the promotion of a safe and effective school environment with strong education outcomes,” the submission stated.

“However, APIS would be concerned if issues of special character and the beliefs and philosophies that underpin each state integrated school were to be considered by the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office as reasons for serious concern due to prevailing secular societal norms and values and/or the media pushing their own ideological positions.”

FULL STORY

APIS/NZCEO submission on Education System and Review Bill (NZ Parliament)

Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill 228-1 (2025), Government Bill – New Zealand Legislation (NZ Legislation)