ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Digital report cards are better for children, parents but worse for teachers: Principal

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 21 Jan 2019, 9:23AM
The move would be good for parents, who would be able to log in any time to see how their children were doing. Photo / Getty Images

Digital report cards are better for children, parents but worse for teachers: Principal

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 21 Jan 2019, 9:23AM

A primary school principal says digital reports cards could be better for kids and parents but would mean more work for teachers.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins is considering giving traditional report cards the axe - after a primary school review group suggested going digital.

The move would be good for parents, who would be able to log in any time to see how their children were doing.

Finlayson Primary School principal Shirley Maihi told Mike Hosking digital reports can help engage parents with their children's learning.

"We are in a digital age now and it's time for all of us to believe it and get on with it."

"Many schools are already doing this and long gone are the days of two reports a year to parents."

"Parents value and become more engaged in school when they can log on, see what their children are up to, notice the ongoing learning environment their children are in and the academic achievement they are making."

However, she said teachers would have a lot more on their plates - with continual assessment, critiquing and uploading.

"Particularly junior class teachers because it's an ongoing assessment, which always does go on normally, but it's the critiquing, the uploading, the continual upgrading of children's achievement but it's got huge benefits for parents."

Maihi said it would also help parents stop their kids from falling behind.

"We are finding that parents, because they are more engaged with where their children are at, they can be a really active partner in where the needs of the children are most important."

She said it also helps split families stay across their children's learning.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you