Hundreds of principals sign open letter urging Education Minister to pause curriculum rollout
More than 650 primary and area school principals have published an open letter to Education Minister Erica Stanford today, urging her to pause all current curriculum rollout deadlines.
The letter expressed deep concern that the reforms are being implemented too quickly, with limited clarity, consultation, or local grounding.
Organised by NZEI Te Riu Roa Principals' Council, the letter calls on Minister Stanford to prioritise genuine collaboration with principals, teachers and Māori, and to include qualified experts in the co-design of future curriculum changes.
The letter is also endorsed by the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, which represents 2,000 principals, as well as Te Akatea, the kaupapa Māori tumuaki national body.
Auckland principal Stephen Lethbridge, says: “I’m a firm believer that changes to schools and curricula can be a force for good, but changes can only be successful when there has been engagement and good faith conversation with school leaders and teachers.”
The open letter says that recent policy moves have eroded te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori, and that there has been focus on a “knowledge-rich” curriculum, but neither the Ministry of Education or any Cabinet papers can give a clear definition of what that is.
The principals say they are concerned curriculum design has been outsourced to overseas consultants, rather than locals who understand Aotearoa.
The open letter follows the rushed implementation of literacy and maths curriculum changes last year, which put huge pressure on educators and pushed many principals to the brink.
‘Principals busted their guts at the end of last year to get the literacy and maths changes up and running. The Government’s decision to rush the process and the implementation meant we had to work at quick fire pace – three months instead of a more standard three years – and there was very little consultation. Grappling with the pressure of that on top of our usual workload pushed many principals to the point of burnout.’
A delegation of principals will deliver the letter to Parliament at 11.30am today.