We also asked the Minister about the work under way on improving student achievement, including numeracy and literacy rates, and reducing the disparities. The Minister noted that the decline in numeracy attainment has been 20 years in the making and that, due to the 10- to 15-year horizon that curriculum changes can take, it will take some time for improvements to be seen in the numeracy outcomes. When asked about ongoing work, the Minister told us of the focus needed on professional development and initial teacher training, and the creation of new standards to be piloted in 2022. We also considered the reform of vocational education and the progress made in the establishment of Te Pūkenga and the workforce development councils. We heard about the record number of people going into apprenticeships, with more people training in areas where the skills are in hot demand, and we also heard about the difference that that free trades training has made. 