16044 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

16044 (2025). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: Why has the ‘understand’ portion of the understand-know-do framework been removed from the draft English Year 7-13 curriculum?

Hon Erica Stanford: The New Zealand Curriculum continues to organise learning using an Understand, Know, Do (UKD) model. I am advised by the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) that the UKD model within the draft Years 7-13 English learning area has been updated. The ‘understands’ sit across all phases, while the knowledge and practices (dos) sit within each phase. The ‘understands’ can be found on page 6 of the draft document: https://files-au-prod.cms.commerce.dynamics.com/cms/api/qwxsnqcpfm/binary/MLbhNv The Ministry is currently consulting on the draft English learning area for Years 7-13. I encourage the sector and wider public to engage with the draft content through this process. Consultation closes on 13 June 2025.