Certificate Endorsements Prove Popular

Certificate endorsement, introduced for the first time for 2007 NCEA results, has received a tick of approval from principals and students - with the prospect of retrospective endorsement also creating considerable interest.

Endorsements have been introduced as one of the NCEA improvements announced by the Minister of Education in May last year. Results from 2007 show:

• of 49,132 candidates gaining NCEA Level 1, 11,277 (23%) gained endorsement with Merit, and 2579 (5.2%) gained endorsement with Excellence.
• of 39,680 candidates gaining NCEA Level 2, 6690 (16.9%) gained endorsement with Merit, and 1517 (3.8%), gained endorsement with Excellence.
• of 20,489 candidates gaining NCEA Level 3, 4272 (20.9%) gained endorsement with Merit and 867 (4.2%) gained endorsement with Excellence.

Principal of decile 10 school Tawa College, Murray Lucas, says the endorsements are providing motivation and challenge to the more able students. "I think it has answered a vacuum that was there."

Students automatically receive the highest endorsed certificate gained in each year - a level 2 certificate considered higher than a level 1 certificate.

Mr Lucas is keen that retrospective endorsement be available regardless of students' performance the following year.

One of Mr Lucas' students, Mark Glendenning, says while he received NCEA Level 2 with merit based on last year's results, he would also like to receive his Level 1 certificate updated with excellence, so that he can show prospective employers both achievements.

In general however he is happy with the addition of endorsements. "I like the system better than not having them (endorsements) before because it gives people who can achieve better recognition," he says.

Qualifications Division Deputy Chief Executive Bali Haque said the level of interest in retrospective endorsement was one sign that students appeared to put a value on endorsement.

"It is great that students want these endorsements and put a value on them. That is one of the aims of the endorsement.

"The present policy is to provide each student with the highest level certificate for each year. We are looking at the detail of how to provide retrospective certificates for those students who want them."