Students struggling with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme designed to build confidence in the classroom, said.

“Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA,” Stanford said.

“To achieve our goal of getting 80 per cent of our kids to curriculum by the time they get to high school, we need to be relentlessly focused on teaching the basics brilliantly at school.”

The government has launched a $3 million intensive trial to support 3,000 Year 7 and 8 students in 145 English and Māori medium schools across the country.

The programme, which will run over Terms 1 and 2, aims to lift these students to the required curriculum level in maths.

The 12-week trial includes small group tutoring and supervised online tuition for 30 minutes, up to four times a week per child. Schools involved will receive funding based on the number of participating students.

This funding will cover staffing costs and the use of an artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring tool to support learning.

Stanford said the trial is part of a broader effort to improve foundational skills and reduce educational inequities.

“Every year 65,000 young New Zealanders start school, and we must ensure they’re getting off to the very best possible start,” she said.

The trial will also be evaluated to determine how it could be expanded nationwide in the future. Stanford emphasized the importance of structured mathematics instruction and a knowledge-rich curriculum based on the science of learning to help students succeed.

“We are laser-focused on lifting student achievement and closing the equity gap in our education system so all children are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future,” she said.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing literacy and numeracy challenges and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive academically.