SecQual

Response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake for Course Endorsement
S2011/022 - 20 May 2011

In response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, NZQA has developed ‘the Earthquake exemption’ for course endorsement for 2011.

For 2011, NZQA will:

• maintain the requirement to gain 14 credits at Merit or Excellence to be awarded course endorsement
• relax the requirement that three of these credits be internally assessed and three be externally assessed: the Earthquake exemption
• make this exemption available to all students enrolled in earthquake affected Christchurch schools on 22 February 2011, or subsequently enrolled in those schools prior to 1 September 2011.

List of eligible earthquake affected Christchurch schools.

This exemption is in recognition of the reduced time for teaching, learning and assessment as a result of school closures in February and March, shortened school days and the on-going disruption, difficulties and stress caused by the earthquake and the aftershocks.

Eligibility

1. All students enrolled in one of the earthquake affected Christchurch schools on 22 February 2011 will be eligible:
   1. Students who remain enrolled in earthquake affected schools after 22 February will automatically be eligible;
   2. Students who left Christchurch after the earthquake can apply for the exemption provided their application is supported by their new school. NZQA is developing criteria to guide schools through this process. These criteria will be published shortly.
2. Students who enrol or re-enrol in earthquake affected Christchurch schools after 22 February 2011 and prior to 1 September 2011 will also automatically be eligible for the exemption on the basis that the teaching/learning environment continues to be significantly disrupted.

Process for awarding course endorsement

Awarding of course endorsements will be managed by NZQA systems. These will be configured to process the Earthquake exemption along with all course endorsements in early January 2012. Christchurch schools should continue to make entries in courses in the normal way through the data file submission.

NZQA’s reporting of course endorsements will not differentiate students who have gained them through the Earthquake exemption.

Learner login

The learner login is being configured to give all learners information about potential endorsements. A special message will be placed on the login advising Christchurch students to check any endorsement calculations with their teachers. This information will be available by the end of Term 3.

Earthquake Exemption Schools 

• Akaroa Area School
• Aranui High School
• Avonside Girls' High School
• Burnside High School
• Canterbury International College
• Cashmere High School
• Catholic Cathedral College
• Christchurch Adventist School
• Christchurch Boys' High School
• Christchurch Girls' High School
• Christchurch International College
• Christ's College
• Darfield High School
• Ellesmere College
• Hagley Community College
• Halswell Residential College
• Hillmorton High School
• Hornby High School
• Kaiapoi High School
• Kingslea School (Christchurch)
• Lincoln High School
• Linwood College
• Mairehau High School
• Marian College
• Middleton Grange School
• Oxford Area School
• Papanui High School
• Rangi Ruru Girls' School
• Rangiora High School
• Rangiora New Life School
• Riccarton High School
• Rudolf Steiner School
• Shirley Boys' High School
• Southern Regional Health School
• St Andrew's College
• St Bede's College
• St Margaret's College
• St Thomas of Canterbury College
• Te Kura Whakapumau I Te Reo Tuuturu Ki Waitaha
• Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti
• Van Asch Deaf Education Centre
• Villa Maria College
• Westmount Christchurch Campus                                   

Enquiries

Please refer any enquiries relating to this circular to:

School Relationship Manager
Secondary Assessment and Liaison
Telephone:04 463 3000
Fax: 04 463 3113
Email: firstname.lastname@nzqa.govt.nz