School curriculum and Ministry of Education controversies

The story so far

Education Minister Erica Stanford has directed the Ministry of Education to reinstate terms such as climate change, greenhouse gases and fossil fuels in science and social science curriculums for years 0-10, after they were left out of the final documents.^{19 Aug} In September the Waitangi Tribunal found that the government's school curriculum rewrite was ideological and breached several Treaty principles, saying the advisory group included people hostile to mātauranga Māori. Stanford disagreed with the Tribunal's findings, pointing to improvements in Māori achievement. An anonymous Education Ministry insider alleged that attempts to subvert the Official Information Act were not isolated, and that staff were repeatedly asked to delete "Aotearoa" and other Māori terms. Stanford denied any attempt to circumvent the Act and described the person as ideologically driven.^{23 Sep} The Chief Ombudsman launched a formal inquiry into claims that ministry officials tried to bypass the Official Information Act, after a leaked video showed a senior official advising staff to avoid putting certain information in writing.^{25 Sep}

Key moments

1. 19 AugMinister orders climate change terms restored to years 0-10 science curriculums.
2. 23 SepWhistleblower alleges Official Information Act subversion; minister denies it.
3. 25 SepChief Ombudsman launches formal inquiry into claims of bypassing the OIA.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.