A group of the country's top education academics says the Government should focus on minimising harm to children under its new national school standards policy.
The Government is developing standards in literacy and numeracy which primary school children will be measured against.
Many principals, teachers and educationalists are concerned the move could have a negative effect on children's learning.
In a paper to the Minister of Education, the New Zealand Assessment Academy says the standards need to be implemented carefully.
It warns against an overemphasis on tests and says the focus should be on students, parents and teachers getting good information about student progress.
Education Minister of Education Anne Tolley Morning Report she is not going down the path of national testing but is using current assessment practises on teachers' effectiveness and students' learning practices.
