Key to this are strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and maths. These skills allow them to be successful in the broader curriculum learning at school and gain qualifications into further study and employment. This will open doors to fulfilling careers and empower our children to navigate the world confidently.

To track our progress towards improving achievement, the Government has set a target: by December 2030, 80% of Year 8 students are at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths. 

Six priorities to improve achievement#

The Minister of Education has outlined 6 priorities to improve the education system.

Education priorities focused on lifting achievement – Beehive website

These priorities set the direction for our work programmes and how we will assist schools and kura. So, we can collectively support all students to achieve. This will mean:

• teachers and schools are supported by a detailed, knowledge-rich curriculum and will know what needs to be taught and when
• all students will be learning literacy and mathematics in a way that evidence tells us best supports students to learn
• parents will know about their child’s progress and teachers will know about their students’ progress so they can adjust as needed
• attracting and retaining teachers domestically and from overseas, and better teacher education at every stage of a teacher’s career, from selection and Initial Teacher Education through beginning teachers, experienced teachers, and experts, leaders, and principals
• targeted effective learning support
• better use of data, assessment, and evidence to identify and invest in supports and services that work.

Work programmes underway#

There are several work programmes underway to deliver the priorities and reach our achievement target:

• Successful teaching incentives have encouraged more people into teaching. These incentives prioritise training in specific shortage areas. In addition, overseas recruitment campaigns have been successful in attracting teachers, particularly secondary teachers in subject shortage areas.    
• The Government is also backing New Zealand's teaching workforce by funding teacher registrations and practising certificates, acknowledging the vital role educators play in driving positive change in classrooms.
• The 'Teaching the Basics Brilliantly' work programme will lift student outcomes with a coherent, whole-of-pathway approach to assessment and aromatawai. This includes work underway on a new assessment and aromatawai tool for Years 3 to 10, expected to be ready for use in Term 1, 2026, and the introduction of Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro for children in Years 1 to 2.  
• We’ve updated the English and maths learning areas as part of the refresh of the New Zealand Curriculum, and Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau wāhanga ako as part of the redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Drafts of all other learning areas and wāhanga ako are in development and will be available for feedback and use in 2026.
• The School Onsite Training Programme has been expanded to 242 places for 2025 (up from 150 for 2024) with further increases for 2026.
• We are implementing structured teaching approaches to literacy and Rangaranga Reo ā Tā based on the science of how children learn. Support includes professional learning, classroom resources and staffing resource for Years 0 to 2 (for schools using The New Zealand Curriculum).
• The Learning Support system is being redesigned so it is needs based, equitable, efficient and consistent in its provision.  
• In Term 1 2024, we introduced the ‘hour a day’ teaching requirement to make sure there’s dedicated teaching of reading, writing, maths, pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau.

We will provide updates when available. 

Quarterly progress report#

The progress report for the quarter ending June 2024 shows:

• delivery against the achievement target is at-risk
• work continues to deliver on the 6 priorities, which include the new maths action plan and developing a consistent system of assessment and aromatawai.

Government targets – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)

Percentage of students at or above the expected curriculum level, by subject#

More information for schools#

Visit Tāhūrangi for the latest updates and resources to support implementation in your schools and kura.

Tāhūrangi