There was a time when they just taught "the 3 Rs"

"Victoria University of Wellington wants the teachers it trains to be ‘agents of change.’

"According to the university’s handbook for teacher education programmes, teaching graduates must be committed to 'social, cultural, and ecological justice.' Decoded, that means attending protests about political causes the activists lecturers find important.

"Providing teachers with skills to manage a classroom is not part of the brief. Neither is ensuring they can teach their students even a modicum of knowledge. It is crucial, however, that new teachers can critique their ancestors.

"Yes, you read that correctly."

~ Dr. Michael Johnston from his post 'Grading your grandmother'

ENTIRELY UNRELATED:

"More than 5000 teens have failed the critical NCEA numeracy test four times or more. ...
    "A Qualifications Authority report said ... 2508 failed the reading test at least four times and the figure for the writing test was 2687. ... 'This data shows that there is still a population of students for whom more intensive or specific support is required,' the report said."

~ More than 5000 teens fail NCEA numeracy test four times or more - RNZ