NQF credit registration fee simplified

18 March, 2008

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NZQA has begun consulting the tertiary education sector on a proposed new way of funding National Qualifications Framework (NQF) credit registration.

A single fee of $1.55 for each credit gained by students is proposed, to replace the current $25.00 'hook-on' fee payable for new students and the $1.00-per-credit fee. This will cover the costs to maintain the NQF within one simplified proposed credit fee.

There are no changes planned for secondary schools, where students pay a $75.00 annual fee for NCEA.

Industry Training Organisations involved in running moderation systems will also receive an increase in the rebate paid to them from the proposed credit fee increase, with this rising from .30 cents per credit to .45 cents per credit.

The NQF contains all nationally recognised standards registered in New Zealand . When students gain credits towards a qualification, these are registered and become part of a student's lifelong Record of Achievement.

The NQF was set up in 1991 to be self-funding but the 'hook-on' fee and the $1.00 credit registration fee have remained unchanged since their introduction in 1993, and no longer cover the costs of providing the service.

NZQA Chief Executive Karen Poutasi said the proposed fee reflected the actual cost of maintaining the NQF.

"The National Qualifications Framework is one of the cornerstones of education in New Zealand ," she said.

"The proposed fee will mean that NZQA can fund all the activities that support the development and maintenance of the NQF from the single credit registration fee."

The activities that currently constitute the development and maintenance of the NQF are:

Evaluation, registration and review of NQF standards and qualifications
Management and maintenance of learners' records
Processing of NQF results onto the Record of Achievement database
National external moderation of NQF standards (approximately 5,000) under the responsibility of NZQA
Services to tertiary education providers by business units maintaining and developing the NQF (excluding Quality Assurance Division services)
National external moderation rebate to industry training organisations
Users' access to the NZQA learners' record database via the web portal
Ongoing contribution to maintenance of the NZQA qualification database
Development and maintenance of NQF operational policy and procedures, for example work on standard setting, assessment, moderation, credit rebate, and international benchmarking
Research and analysis work on the NQF and results.

Around 344,000 learners earn NQF credits each year.

NZQA has contacted key stakeholders in the tertiary sector via telephone and letter, inviting feedback, including online consultation via the NZQA website

The consultation period will run from 18 March 2008 to 2 May 2008, with the NZQA Board scheduled to make a decision on the proposal by 30 May. Stakeholders will be informed of this decision by 30 June 2008.

For more information contact:

Steve Rendle
Communications - NZQA
DDI: 04-463-4240
Mobile : 0274-575783

Page updated: 18 March 2008