I think, therefore IB

New Zealand has a school attendance problem. No, it’s not a problem, it’s a…

Some have muttered ‘Covid-19 lockdowns’, but no, the crisis was apparent well before the grubby little virus appeared and way ahead of the lockdowns. Some think it has a lot more to do with New Zealand’s dumbed down curriculum, its decades-old everyone-gets-a-certificate assessment system, rampant wokeism in the school system, and the way more attractive options of couch-based X-Box-esque pursuits, shopping malls or just hanging out with the bros. The reasons are less important than the consequences. A poor education means a poor life and it really is that simple.

Elsewhere in New Zealand’s government / society, some are bleating and wringing their hands and clutching their pounamu necklaces while muttering about prison demographics, wrongly identifying ethnicity as a major causal factor. The strongest correlation is not race-prison, it’s education-prison. Among New Zealand’s prison population there is a near-100% illiteracy rate.  

One more time, a poor education means a poor life.

Poor education leads to low-income jobs, poor housing, poor diet… a poor life is a downward spiral and escape from it is nearly impossible.

A good education leads to a good life. Get New Zealand’s education system right and good things will come.

And New Zealand’s new government is taking action, talking about school attendance and truancy/absenteeism. Associate Education Minister David Seymour will tour New Zealand to talk with school communities about the new STAR (Stepped Attendance Response) system to track attendance and tackle absenteeism. Schools are being required to take charge of truancy by engaging with parents. Other Government agencies are also on notice and will be expected to engage too.

“The basic premise of the STAR is that no child is left behind. Every student, parent, teacher and school has a role to play. Each school will develop their own STAR system to suit their community and school,” he said.

“Almost every aspect of someone’s adult life will be defined by the education they receive as a child. If we want better social outcomes, we can’t keep ignoring the truancy crisis.”

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