Figure 1.-- New Zealand schools believe that children should be able to fully develop their potential. Many schools have initiated programs to cater for the special needs of certain groups of students--the able and those who have more difficulty with academic study. |
New Zealand schools believe that children should be able to fully develop their potential. Many schools have initiated programs to cater for the special needs of certain groups of students--the able and those who have more difficulty with academic study.
Several secondary schools offer accelerated programs for especially talented students. One school points out that, "There is no doubt that the more able students often find themselves in a class where the progress is slow and they end up becoming bored. This sometimes leads to poor work quality and output, lack of motivation and even behavioural problems." Being put into a class of similar ability students prevents this from happening and also results in the class progressing at a faster rate.
Secondary schools are also working hard to make sure that the less academically gifted all are able to successfully develop their potential. Programs exist to help those students who have difficulties in academic study. Their problems
usually stem from a lack of development in Mathematics and English. Weakness in these two areas affects other
subjects and so they experience continual failure and often become demotivated and develop low self-esteem.
