The Prime Minister, John Key, announced today some major changes in education. The changes are partly to improve the performance of children who are not doing well at school. New Zealand children mostly perform well on international tests but we have many who do not succeed at school. John Key believes better teachers and principals will make a difference.
The other reason for John Key’s new ideas is to give more promotion opportunities for teachers.
One important idea is a new position called Change Principal. This person will become the principal of a school in a poor area and will be paid an extra $50,000 a year to improve the performance of students at that school.
Very good teachers can be paid more too. An Expert Teacher will work with other schools 2 days a week, to help make changes. A Lead Teacher will have an open classroom where other teachers can watch and learn. The former will be paid $20,000 more a year and the latter $1,000.
Another new position is an Executive Principal who will earn an extra $40,000. This person will work 3 days in his or her own school and help other principals for 2 days a week.
John Key did not say where the extra money would come from. People from other political parties say that these changes won’t work because the problem with poor learning is poverty.
Listen to June 2nd 2013 to hear more about poverty and children going to school hungry.
Vocabulary
- performance (n) at school – success at school, how well someone learns; perform (v)
- promotion (n) – moving up to a better job
- opportunities (n) – chances
- former (adj) – first thing mentioned (out of 2 things)
- latter (adj) – last thing mentioned (out of 2 things)
- poverty (n) – being poor
Questions
Why do some children not do well at school? Is it because of poor teachers or because of poverty? Are there other reasons?
I like this style because I could listen and read together, so you should issue new topic ervery week.