The national curriculum for schooling nationwide will be refreshed over the next few years according to the Government, while it also announced a Healthy Active Learning programme will be introduced to more than 300 schools.

The national curriculum for schooling will be refreshed over the next three-to-four years to make Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and The New Zealand Curriculum clearer, more relevant, easier to use, and more explicit about what learners need to understand, know and do, Associate Ministers of Education, Jan Tinetti and Kelvin Davis announced today.

During the next three-to-four years, each learning area in The New Zealand Curriculum will be refreshed - beginning with Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories in the Social Sciences learning area this year, followed with the content for Mathematics, English and Science learning areas in 2022.

The refresh will review the large number of achievement objectives currently in the curriculum and aim to provide greater clarity about progress across the curriculum to ensure all learners are reaching the milestones they need to.

It will also seek to strike a balance between the learning that is important nationally and that which is relevant locally, and professional learning and development has been prioritised to better support schools to develop their local curriculum.

“I know parents, teachers and whānau want more certainty about what tamariki need to learn in schools and kura - their progress, strengths and where support is needed - through a curriculum that focuses on wellbeing, identities, language and culture,” Minister Tinetti says.

Minister Davis says the most important shift is to address equity, trust and coherence through integrating the He Tamaiti Hei Raukura framework. 

“Ākonga need to learn from a curriculum that is rich in te reo and tikanga Māori, is meaningful to them and their whānau, and equips our tamariki with the skills and wellbeing they need in this ever-changing world” says Minister Davis.

“It’s time to take the next big step for ākonga by strengthening Te Marautanga o Aotearoa in partnership with whānau, hapū and iwi, grounded in the key values and aspirations of te ao Māori,” he says.

“I know first-hand the challenges our teachers face,” Minister Tinetti says, “These changes seek to reduce teacher workload by providing greater clarity and guidance on what to teach and when. They will help teachers to plan and deliver engaging learning experiences that mean all our tamariki progress and meet their key milestones.”

Educators will be supported through the curriculum refresh - it will be developed collaboratively with opportunities at all stages of the refresh for the education sector, learners, parents and whānau to be involved.

For more information on the national curriculum refresh, click here.

Meanwhile the Government also announced a Healthy Active Learning programme will be introduced to more than 300 schools.

 The Government’s Healthy Active Learning programme will be introduced to more than 300 schools, a partnership between Sport NZ and the Ministries of Health and Education. Photo Pixabay. 

Children and young people in more than 300 schools and kura are part of an innovative programme that brings together learning about healthy eating and drinking habits, while also taking part in quality physical activity through a joint initiative between Sport NZ and the Ministries of Health and Education.

The Government has invested $47.6 million over four years to build on the success of other government programmes across physical activity and nutrition to foster healthy and active learning environments and better connection to communities. Phase two of the initiative will see it reach a further 500 schools and kura in 2022-2024.

“I’m thrilled we have funded the Healthy Active Learning programme,” Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said.  “This is a real life example of our wellbeing approach, with different agencies working together to deliver positive outcomes for our young people

“Regional sports trusts, regional education offices and public health units are partnering with one another to engage 313 schools and kura to develop school cultures and processes that value and prioritise quality nutrition and physical activity.”

Education Minister Chris Hipkins commended the initiative for building on what already exists in each education setting, so that the support provided is customised according to the different needs of schools, kura and their communities. 

“Children and young people spend a lot of their time at school, so we need to ensure we are helping to instill a lifelong love of physical activity and being healthy. That means creating inclusive and quality physical activity experiences that help children make positive and informed choices about food, nutrition, physical activity and their own wellbeing,” Chris Hipkins said.

Healthy Active Learning is a voluntary initiative and is being delivered at no cost to education providers.