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United Future
Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 314

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School leaving figures a ‘national shame’

New figures on school leavers’ highlight a massive gender gap in New Zealand schools, according to UnitedFuture education spokesperson Judy Turner.

“The gender gap has become enormous – about three times the size of the gender pay gap that receives so much attention,” says Mrs Turner.

“We have set up our education system to focus on ensuring the achievement of girls while ignoring boys as they got left behind. Now that boys are far behind, nothing is being done to address this.

“The attainment gap has actually widened. A whopping 36 percent more girls than boys achieving level 3 NCEA or higher last year, compared with 32 percent in 2006.

“The Secondary Principals Association said that NCEA level 2 now represents the minimum standard for leaving school. Today’s figures show that boys are 30 percent more likely to leave school without this minimum qualification than girls, with 39 percent of all boys leaving with NCEA level 2 or above.

“The gap cannot be blamed on socio-economic patterns or explained by cultural differences as can be argued with ethnic variations. The gender gap appears across all ethnicities and particularly Maori,” says Mrs Turner.
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mcinnes
Since: Apr 2008
Posts: 53

There are definitely significant issues raised. I understand that you have an interest in the Middle school principle. My research has shown that if we can raise & shelter a child, particularly boys to the "5th" form level without them 'acting out' then we have done them & society a great service. It does seem that by putting pupils in the Form 1 to 4 schools that we insulate them somewhat from the not so good & bad habits they can & do emulate in regard to the 5th, 6th & 7th formers. I believe 1 way of 'fixing' he learning problem is to have adolescents in middle schools where they are less exposed to learning 'bad' habits from older pupils thus leaving them with a greater focus on why they are at school - to learn & grow...rather than to act out, play up & do all manner of things that kids do as they make presently their only transition into the adult world which begins presently when they begin high school in the 3rd form. If that transition can be delayed until the 5th form when they are that much more mature and have not had certain lesser influences from the older pupils in high schools then I do believe the pupils get a better shot at learning rather than constantly trying to figure how to be 'way cool', rebellious & in some cases narcissistic, machevalian or sociopathic like a number the 'oldest' kids where the worst tend to lead the most vulnerable down paths no one really wants to see them travel but for the idiotic loose older role models. Avoiding such influences must help kids keep their minds on why they are at school. This is only one point I see as important but it is an important 1.

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