Earth and space science is on the new list of secondary subjects. Image by NASA on Unsplash.
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">New secondary school subjects announced by Minister of Education Erica Stanford have raised questions from the secondary teaching sector about how decisions were made, and what support would be available. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News</em> online HERE.</b></a></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The subjects will be part of the new senior curriculum planned to replace NCEA. Stanford said the subjects will “create a future focused curriculum that recognises the growing importance of STEM”. New specialist subject areas will include:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Earth and space science</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Statistics and data science</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Electronics and mechatronics</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Further maths</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Civics, politics and philosophy</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Media, journalism and communications </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Te Mātai i te ao Māori </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Pacific studies </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Music technology.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Industry-led subjects will also be introduced, including:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Primary industry</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Health and wellbeing services</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Outdoor education</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Automotive engineering</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Building and construction</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Infrastructure engineering </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Mechanical engineering</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
<li><span data-contrast="auto">Tourism and hospitality.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Industry Skills Boards would be commissioned to develop the subjects for the Ministry of Education. Outdoor education and tourism and hospitality are currently NCEA subjects. Peak industry bodies for these teachers had previously expressed concern they would be sidelined in the redevelopment of the senior curriculum, with Tourism Teachers Aotearoa New Zealand chair Callum Green saying that making tourism a vocational subject would undo years of work. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Related <em>School News</em> story: <a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/2024/09/concern-raised-over-low-pass-rate-for-new-ncea-corequisites/" target="_blank">Concerns over low pass-rates for new NCEA corequisites</a></strong></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">&#8220;We worked with industry for four or five years very closely to develop a real future-focused, academically rigourous subject. But what this means now is that this subject will go back to being a unit standard subject and unfortunately in schools it is not seen as being a worthwhile subject for a lot of students, which is very disappointing,” Green told </span><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/571044/tourism-outdoor-education-teachers-oppose-subject-change" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">RNZ</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In her announcement, Stanford said “these pathways will be industry led and tertiary aligned so they meet what is expected in the professional world, making staying at school relevant for every child, no matter what their career pathway.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“This will enable students to leave school with a secondary and a tertiary qualification. We’re having one integrated system where all subjects, whether Ministry led or industry-led, are equal.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Te Marautanga o Aoteroa will also have its own detailed curriculum in te reo Māori including new subjects like Tātai arorangi (Māori traditional systems of Earth and Sky) and Te ao whakairo (Māori carving). </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Related <em>School News</em> story: <a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/2024/04/changes-to-the-ncea-timeline-garner-mixed-reactions/" target="_blank">Changes to the NCEA timeline garner mixed reactions </a></strong></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Generative AI will be learnt about and used in many subjects, said Stanford. Students would learn about digital systems, machine learning, cybersecurity and digital ethics. A specialist subject for Year 13 on Generative AI will be investigated for development. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Stanford said schools would receive an “implementation package” including PLD, curriculum days, classroom resources, exemplars and guidance for all year levels.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"> The new curriculum is set to be phased over three years, beginning with Year 11 students in 2028 and following the cohort until 2030. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<h4><b><span data-contrast="auto">Sector raises concerns </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">With secondary principals saying staffing is in “crisis”, and schools already struggling with curriculum changes, the sector has raised concerns over the Government announcement.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">PPTA Te Wehengarua President Chris Abercrombie has said teachers and students lack certainty about the future. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“The secondary school subject list released today is very short on detail and provides no explanation of how decisions were made around it,” he said. Abercrombie said more te reo Māori pathways were positive, but also lacked detail. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Abercrombie said the announcement was “putting the cart before the horse” as the Year 1 to 10 curriculum has not been fully released. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“It means we have no idea, for example, of the prior learning that these Year 11 to 13 subjects will build on.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Abercrombie also raised concerns about the planned industry-based subjects. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">“We have not been given any details about how they will work, who will teach them, or how they will be funded. Adding to our concern is the fact that the Industry Skills Boards, which are in charge of them, don’t come into effect until next year.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">He called on the Government for more details on the support that would be available to teachers and schools to implement the new subjects. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">“We know from much experience that major changes succeed or fail depending on how well-resourced and supported the implementation of them is.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";134233117";:false,";134233118";:false,";335557856";:16777215,";335559738";:0,";335559739";:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">“We believe that the key to success, when it comes to curriculum change, is that it needs to be manageable, well-resourced and values teacher expertise.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{";134233117";:false,";134233118";:false,";335557856";:16777215,";335559738";:0,";335559739";:0}"> </span></p>

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