The Government is taking aim at lazy students and courses with high dropout or failure rates in looming reforms in tertiary education.

A high school renowned for producing a string of Kiwi sporting stars has been accused of inappropriately drug-testing some students.

Almost three-quarters of parents support the Government's controversial national achievement standards for primary and intermediate students.

School principals want to be treated as "democratically" as Maori immersion schools in the roll-out of national standards.

The Govt's approach to national standards has shifted from benchmarks to help students to performance measures for teachers, the NZ Principals' Federation says.

Albany High equalises software access.

John Key and Anne Tolley justified a $200,000 taxpayer-funded public relations campaign to sell national standards.

The Govt will spend $200,000 on a nationwide letter and brochure drop to inform people about new educations standards in place from today.

John Key is trying to shut down concerns about national standards by saying decisions on how the data will be publicly reported are too far away to worry about.

Most adults lack an 'effective level of literacy'.

Principals are worried that primary schools in poor areas will be made to look bad when national standards are introduced next week.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has defended herself against claims she has not been coping with the demands of her education portfolios.