National Party Leader John Key remains committed to delivering better educational standards in our primary schools.

"More than half of primary schools are already using assessment mechanisms like those that I've been talking about. For them, the measures I outlined yesterday will mean little change in the collection or provision of more reliable information about a child's education.

"But the ERO has confirmed to us that too many schools are still not using that information properly or acting on the data when it reveals a problem. Nor are enough actively pursuing an agenda to raise overall educational standards.

"National is more ambitious than that for our children .

"Every New Zealand child should leave school being able to read and write. And if they can't, we should know that long before they drop out of the education system, and before they enter secondary school."

The Education Review Office estimates one in five children aren't succeeding at school.

"Government departments like Work and Income and Corrections know how much of a problem illiteracy is. Employers will tell you the same thing. National is committed to catching the problems earlier. Parents and teachers need reliable information to give them the opportunity to intervene earlier, rather than waiting until it's too late."

Mr Key says the critics of National's policy claim it is a precursor to inflexible mass testing and published league tables.

"But I have already rejected those concerns and we look forward to a constructive relationship with them on that basis.

"National's plan is to add a benchmark - which is nothing anyone should fear - as well as make schools communicate more effectively with parents about their children's progress.

"I would urge all principals, teachers, board members, and parents to read my speech so they can judge for themselves what National proposes.

"This is not rocket science. We want all our children to be able to read, write and do basic mathematics to a nationally-benchmarked level. These are the basic building blocks to a better education and a more rewarding career or job. We should settle for nothing less."