Quality teaching biggest influence on pupils

By ALAN PERROTT, education reporter

Teacher quality has a greater impact on a child's education than the curriculum, school environment or expensive computers.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said this was the key finding of three national and international studies issued yesterday which looked at how learning could be improved.

The minister said he was investigating new ways of spending the $120 million the Government put into professional development and advisory services each year so that it went into areas known to make a difference.

The studies also linked achievement levels to good connections between families and schools, especially for young children.

Post Primary Teachers Association president Phil Smith said the reports highlighted the error made in introducing bulk-funded operations grants in 1989.

"The amount which some schools spend on professional development is minimal, as boards balance it against other demands which seem more urgent to keep the school operational," said Mr Smith.

But he added that more work was needed to examine how influences outside of school, such as poverty, affected the success of students.

Mr Smith pointed to the results of the three-year South Auckland Literacy Project as further proof that when teachers were given more time to train and given better resources, students benefited.