NZ education practices do not align with research

Nathan Mikaere-Wallis from the Brain Wave Trust and XFactor Education discusses whether New Zealand Education policy aligns with recognised research. Sadly in some areas it doesn't.

The school starting age was lowered to five years during the war so mothers could join the war effort. New Zealand was the only country who didn't put it back to six after the war. Learners before the age of seven need to be learning how to learn through play and developing a very strong sense of themselves as a learner. Piaget made this very clear nearly a hundred years ago. Research recommends children start school at six in order to have a year of transition before they need to begin more formalised learning.