An expert panel's been called in by the Ministry of Education for advice on improving students' maths results.
A survey has found Kiwi students' math knowledge in the first year of high school ranks below all other English-speaking countries.
Massey University mathematics professor Bobbie Hunter told Kerre McIvor political agendas have contributed, leading to such things as National Standards, which derailed maths teaching.
"In fact, we need to separate politics from policy, and set a New Zealand-wide policy in what we want from mathematics."
She says e're still achieving at the same level as twenty years ago.
"Our students haven't actually gone backwards - every other country has jumped over us."
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