Amid concern about the impact of COVID-19 on students’ academic progress,many schools across the three sectors will this year begin trialling a new kindergarten to year 2 curriculum involving a greater emphasis on phonics,or sounding out letters and letter combinations when students learn to read.
The curriculum will not be mandatory until 2023.
Almost 1000 public primary schools will also gain an assistant principal who will be in charge of implementing the new curriculum,monitoring student progress in literacy and numeracy and ensuring teachers receive the training they need.
Under the first phase of recruitment which began in August,927 teachers were hired to start in the new role in term one,and another 237 will be hired this term. Almost 350 curriculum specialists are expected to begin in term two.
“The take up of these positions is fantastic and it means schools have a dedicated assistant principal focusing on student’s literacy and numeracy,” said Education Minister Sarah Mitchell. “These new positions will also be important as we help schools start the first year of implementing the new K-2 curriculum.”
Meanwhile,principals of private schools whose students returned to class last week say the process was easier than expected. “We have had a smooth start to the year. No significant impact from COVID at this stage to staff or students,” said the head of Santa Sabina College,Paulina Skerman.