NCEA design deadlines needed

22 March 2007

NCEA design deadlines needed

The Government must set timelines to urgently address issues identified with the design of the NCEA, Secondary Principals’ Council chairperson Arthur Graves said today.

“We believe very strongly in the NCEA system as it does provide for the needs of the full range of students in New Zealand and can only get better. That is why we are asking for the Ministry and Government to put in place changes to address the design issues and other concerns that have been identified.

Mr Graves said research showed that the current design of the NCEA encouraged some students to take a minimalist approach.

“We have got to send the message to the high achievers that it is worth doing really well in the NCEA and that their achievement will be recognised.”

But he said there was no future for New Zealand in having a dual assessment system of NCEA and Cambridge.

“It is really disturbing that some schools are developing a two tier system in their schools based on a false assumption that Cambridge is a quality qualification.

“In some cases it seems Cambridge is being used to undermine NCEA, that its name is being used as a marketing gimmick, particularly in Auckland for competitive purposes between schools.

“Parents need to recognise that Cambridge is not the top rate qualification it purports to be. It was not designed for a New Zealand setting nor does it cover all subjects in our curriculum.

“NCEA is a better system for New Zealand in the 21st century both because it has the capacity and flexibility for learning to be tailored to the student and it recognises all the nuances of what students actually know and can do.

“It is also more closely aligned with our tertiary education system as well as with the employment environment that new graduates face.

“The rigour is there in the system. We just have to ensure that the design motivates students to do their very best.”

ENDS

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