European nations are eyeing New Zealand’s education overhaul as a model for their own reforms. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford's implemented new curriculums, scrapped NCEA, increased learning support funding and put a sharper focus on teaching the basics this year. 

Estonia’s Education Minister Kristina Kallas is here meeting Stanford, and says her country and others are considering similar changes after drops in achievement. 

She told Mike Hosking New Zealand's direction is the right one. 

Kallas says basic skills are needed to develop critical and analytical thinking. 

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