Most Schools Advocate For NCEA

Media Release
17 October 2007

Findings of a National Survey of Secondary Schools paint a different picture to the views often heard in the media, Secondary Principals’ Council chair Arthur Graves said today.

“The vast majority of principals are very strong advocates for the NCEA because we can see that it makes a difference for students.

“It’s great to see the high level of support from the professional leaders of our secondary schools. It is to be hoped that this fact will get more attention in the media than the minority who are opposed and whose views have been used to undermine the NCEA.”

Mr Graves confirmed that NCEA was bedding down and that schools were more confident with exploiting its benefits.

"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.
“Although there have been implementation problems and although some of these still need to be resolved, NCEA is heading in the right direction.

“There are very few principals who would want to go back to the old pass/fail system that condemned 50% of young people to failure.

ENDS

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