Improved test results for students in poorer communities linked to Te Tiriti-based teaching

Education leaders are celebrating a notable improvement in performance for students from lower-income backgrounds as the latest PISA international test results show New Zealand is bucking global downward trends. Data released this week shows the performance gap between students from wealthy and poor backgrounds has closed to 89 points, driven largely by a significant 20-point improvement among students in the lowest socio-economic bracket. Secondary Principals’ Association president Louise Anaru described the improved average scores for students from poor backgrounds as genuinely encouraging. She attributed the progress to the implementation of culturally responsive teaching practices that give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the classroom. According to Anaru, these results provide a strong argument for maintaining current strategies, noting that the gap has narrowed because schools have not pulled back on these specific practices. New Zealand’s overall performance remained relatively stable compared to the sharp declines seen internationally since 2018. While global average scores for maths and reading dropped by 27 points, New Zealand’s science score increased slightly to 509, and its maths score held steady at 480 points. Education Minister Erica Stanford noted that while the results indicate scores are stabilising, there is still work to be done to support all learners. Post Primary Teachers Association president Chris Abercrombie said the findings demonstrate the high-performing nature of the local education system but called for sustained investment in schools within poorer communities. He emphasised that funding for learning support and initiatives like lunches in schools are essential to meeting unmet needs and promoting quality teaching. The report, which surveyed 700,000 15-year-olds worldwide, highlighted that supportive teachers remain a critical factor in student achievement.