FIELD                 MULTI-FIELD

 

Revision of NCEA qualifications

 

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 1) [Ref: 0928]

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 2) [Ref: 0973]

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 3) [Ref: 1039]

 

The Ministry of Education has revised the qualifications listed above.

 

Date new versions published                                                          January 2008

 

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2009.

 

Reason for the revision

 

Ongoing improvements to the design of NCEA are fundamental to ensure its purpose remains relevant and meaningful for all students.

 

Recent research suggests that some students need recognition of higher grades of achievement at the qualification level in order to improve motivation to do their best.  In addition to this there has been a perception, often reported in the media, that NCEA does not challenge our most able students.  The endorsement of the qualifications is proposed in order to address these issues.

 

In May 2007 Cabinet directed that the Ministry of Education and NZQA implement endorsement of Levels 1, 2 and 3 NCEAs with merit and with excellence.

 

Consultation has taken place with both the Leaders Forum and the Leaders Forum Qualifications Group.  The former represents a group of key stakeholders and representatives from professional associations.  These include the PPTA, NZ Vice Chancellors' Committee, Independent Schools of NZ, NZ School Trustees Association, PPTA Te Huarahi, Secondary Principals Association of NZ, Principals Council of NZPPTA, NZ Careers Service, National Association of Secondary Deputy and Assistant Principals, Te Runanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, the Education Review Office, and Teacher Education Forum of NZ.

 

In addition to this, representatives of the Industry Training Federation and Business NZ were consulted on this development.

 

Main changes resulting from the revision

 

·         The qualifications were re-issued as new versions on the National Qualifications Framework.

·         The Requirements for Award of Qualification section has been amended to include provisions for the award of the certificates to be endorsed with merit and with excellence as follows.

­      The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 1) with merit will be awarded to people who meet the qualification requirements and who achieve a minimum of 50 credits with merit, or merit and excellence, from achievement standards at Level 1 or above.

 

­      The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (Level 1) with excellence will be awarded to people who meet the qualification requirements and who achieve a minimum of 50 credits with excellence from achievement standards at Level 1 or above.

 

Transition

 

Provisions for endorsement of the NCEA with merit or excellence apply to all certificates awarded from 2007 onwards.

 

Candidates will be able to have any NCEA certificates already awarded retrospectively endorsed with merit or excellence, if the credits gained for these certificates meet the endorsement criteria.

 

For administrative reasons, applications from candidates who have left school and who wish to apply for retrospective endorsement of a certificate cannot apply until after May 2008.  For such candidates, there will be a charge associated with the issuing of the endorsed certificate.