Two qualifications for the work of one

In theory, a student could use all the 80 credits for their Te Waharoa towards their national secondary school qualification, the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 1.

The only compulsory requirement of NCEA level 1 is that all students must gain 8 literacy and 8 numeracy credits. The literacy credits can be accumulated from demonstrating competency in Reo Māori or English at a suitable level. Numeracy credits can also come from a range of unit standards including Pangarau, Statistics and Mathematics.

Secondary schools like Western Heights in Rotorua are realising the benefits of this approach. Deputy Principal Kahira Morris estimates most of their students who achieve Te Waharoa will have at least 60 credits towards their NCEA level 1. The students do not have to be assessed twice.

"It's about time we turned our attention to Māori achievement and what schools are doing to ensure our Māori students gain qualifications at the secondary level. Many of our Māori students at Western Heights are fluent in reo Māori and they have been doing kapa haka since they were babes. We need to recognise those skills."

Kahira Morris believes many of these Māori students may have struggled to get their national secondary school qualification if the full range of their Māori skills and knowledge weren't rewarded.

NZQA Communications Manager Bill Lennox says schools with a strong focus on Māori skills and knowledge are leading the way in taking advantage of the immense flexibility of NCEA.

"We expect that in the future all students will leave school with a number of specialist National Certificates as well as NCEA. Western Heights students completing Te Waharoa are experiencing the full scope of the Framework."

NCEA level 1 has replaced School Certificate this year as the new national secondary school qualification. In 2003, NCEA level 2 replaces 6th Form Certificate and level 3 replaces Universities Bursaries in 2004.