Our kids deserve only the best

Despite tight fiscal times, this Government has invested $9.7 billion in education, which is the highest amount ever, says Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie. PHOTO/FILE

Our kids truly are our future. National wants to see all children get the best possible start in life. We understand the importance of achieving at school, and in tertiary education.

It's vital that we do everything we can to enable our young people to build successful careers and make the most of their lives.

The 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results show our 15-year-olds who came through the education system from 2001-12 are continuing to score above the OECD average in reading, mathematics and science.

However, New Zealand's position on the OECD scale is lower than in the last PISA report, particularly for maths and science.

So it's clear that we must do better. We need to keep the parts that we do really well and change what isn't working. And that's what we have been doing.

The Government recently announced a $10.5 million programme to boost maths and science teaching, alongside the Science and Society Project. This will help us to lift achievement in these core subjects.

Of course, all this is underpinned by National Standards - which we introduced in 2010 to identify which children, and which schools, are not meeting achievement expectations. It means that now we can step in and do something to help those who are falling behind.

Despite tight fiscal times, this Government has invested $9.7 billion in education, which is the highest amount ever. It also puts us in the top 20 per cent of the OECD countries for spend as a percentage of GDP.

We are taking the education of young New Zealanders seriously. Ensuring every child gets a good education is one of the most important things National can do to raise living standards, and build a more competitive and productive economy for New Zealand.

I also believe that the Government can't do this alone. We all need to take responsibility to lift achievement levels to where we want them to be - parents, whanau, communities, teachers, leaders, we all have a part to play.

Together, we must ensure our education system continues to nurture and develop young New Zealanders who are creative and pragmatic problem solvers, communicators, relationship builders - and all with that can-do Kiwi attitude.