Anne Tolley

Wellington, March 30 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley is claiming success in the introduction of national standards in schools as those leading protests against it prepare to descend on Parliament.

Mrs Tolley said 81 percent of schools had signed up for or taken part in professional development workshops to support the implementation of the standards.

"This is an excellent response and shows the vast majority of schools are getting on with the job of implementing the standards. 4695 principals and teachers, representing 1759 schools, will attend the first round of training, allowing them to lead the implementation in their own schools," Mrs Tolley said.

"Teachers asked for support in implementing national standards and the Government made $26 million in funding available for this. I'm delighted so many principals and teachers have signed up, especially as the workshops are optional."

More workshops were planned for term two and Mrs Tolley expected at least 7000 principals and teachers to have been provided with training on standards this year.

Meanwhile, the primary school teachers union NZEI plans to end a national bus tour protesting against the standards with a demonstration at Parliament tomorrow.

The bus has spent nine weeks travelling around New Zealand calling on the Government to trial the standards before they were implemented nationally.

NZEI president Frances Nelson said the Government should have found out if standards worked before they were introduced nationwide.

"The overwhelming message is that New Zealanders -- parents, principals, teachers, boards and the public have serious concerns about what is untried and untested policy with no evidence it will raise student achievement," Ms Nelson said.

National campaigned on the introduction of the standards before the last election.