From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 20s
Test results show maths, reading improving
Primary school math and reading scores rise as reforms take effect.
In brief
Primary school math and reading scores rise as reforms take effect. New Zealand primary students' math and vocabulary skills improved while reading comprehension dipped, with government reforms credited for recent gains. Originally reported by RNZ.
Math scores rebound
Primary school math scores improved significantly after a two-year decline.
Reading vocabulary up
Reading vocabulary scores rose steadily since 2021, reaching a peak this year.
Reading comprehension dip
Reading comprehension scores dropped sharply from 2015 to 2024, reaching a low this year.
Government claims reform impact
Education Minister Erica Stanford said reforms and teacher implementation drove recent improvements.
Digital devices linked to reading gains
Researcher David Coblentz noted a spike in reading vocabulary gains coincided with cell phone adoption.
Gender gaps shift
Math improvements helped boys more than girls, while girls lagged in reading comprehension.
Covid impact on scores
Covid disruptions affected reading comprehension and math scores in recent years.
Teachers credited for gains
Teachers implemented curriculum changes that boosted math and reading skills.
Long-term sustainability questioned
Teacher unions warned sustained improvements require tracking the same student cohorts over time.
Ethnic gaps persist
Persistent ethnic gaps in reading and math scores remain despite recent improvements.
The takeaway
New Zealand primary students' math and vocabulary skills improved while reading comprehension dipped, with government reforms credited for recent gains.
