Please watch for updates. I am now working with a person whose previous employment was as a marketing director so he will guide me as most efficient way forward regarding the dissemination of information etc.

As you know the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is now widely accepted as the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the success or otherwise of education policy-making. This isn’t the place to describe in detail which countries possess the best education and perhaps more importantly which countries have, according to international comparisons, poor education systems.  What is important to note is that Finland overall has the most successful education system and that probably New Zealand was second overall or certainly high up there. Tragically, because of a political agenda, the present National Government has introduced measures including nationalised standardised testing. Hopefully, in 2014 the government will change and New Zealand can get back on track.  It isn’t rocket science to work out how to rapidly shoot up the table. Of course, you would have to give teachers a great deal more freedom and put out a clear message to society that teachers needed to be respected and sadly for political reasons most politicians won’t travel that road – shame on them! New Zealand could compete with Finland for top spot if there were changes in policy etc. For a glimpse visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Pk1c6tkLw&feature=autoplay&list=UUcPweTm8epIgI1p3d90vt1g&lf=plpp&playnext=1