'What' and 'How' Are Both Important

Oct 05, 02:30 PM

Current Headlines: Columnist Joe Bennett (Opinion, Sept 26) unfairly misrepresents the new education curriculum and repeats misquotations and inaccuracies from another newspaper.

Had he consulted us or the new curriculum before writing his column, here is what he would have found.

The new curriculum has a strong focus on literacy, numeracy and the knowledge available in subjects such as mathematics, science English and the arts. These are the "what'' of learning, and in today's knowledge society they are more important than ever.

Just as important is the "how'' of learning -- the ability to ask good questions, to work in multi- disciplinary ways, and to develop, share, and use knowledge rather than just memorise it.

This how is encapsulated in five key competencies in the new curriculum. They are those competencies employers told us they need their workers to have, in addition to -- not instead of -- the what.

The new curriculum outlines a vision for New Zealand students supported by 78 per cent of the 10,000 people who responded to the draft and international experts from Australia and England.

Fortunately, they based their opinions on the document itself. I wish Bennett had too.

MARY CHAMBERLAIN

Education Ministry

(c) 2007 Dominion Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.