Media Release

Findings released from Competent Learners @ 16 project

The Ministry of Education has released the findings from the latest phase of the Competent Children, Competent Learners longitudinal study (Competent Learners @16).

The project, funded by the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, started in 1993 and data has been collected from a group of children in the Greater Wellington region every few years.

“This study highlights the need for students to develop the knowledge and attitudes that support their learning in their early school years,“ said Lynne Whitney, Senior Research Manager with the Ministry of Education.

“Among the main findings is that disengagement from learning often starts before students reach secondary school.”

Other key findings include:

• It is essential to provide positive learning environments where teachers give feedback 
• Individual children’s achievement levels can and do change over time 
• The importance of a strong focus on numeracy and literacy in the early years of primary school 
• The significance of student enjoyment and engagement in learning, and the implications of that for teaching practice

The Competent Children, Competent Learners project charts the development of young people’s literacy, numeracy and logical problem solving over time, and explores which home and educational experiences may account for differences in their patterns of development and performance.

Data collection is currently underway for the next phase of the study as the participants are reaching the age of 20.

The summary and full reports can be read here: www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2567.

For more information

Gillon Carruthers
Senior Media Advisor
Ministry of Education
Phone 04-463 8391 / 021 243 0507
Email gillon.carruthers@minedu.govt.nz [no spam]