AMAP for Achievement Standards [Ref: 0233]

 

Development of new Ministry of Education AMAP

 

The Ministry of Education has developed the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) above.

 

Date new version published                                                             30 November 2010

 

The next AMAP review is planned to take place during 2015.

 

Summary of development process

 

In 2008 the Ministry of Education (MoE) began the process of aligning assessment standards to the New Zealand Curriculum.  A key principle of the alignment process was that all curriculum derived standards be achievement standards.  This has resulted in the progressive expiry of curriculum-linked unit standards.

 

Until now all curriculum-linked standards, whether unit or achievement standards, were covered by AMAP 0226.  MoE determined that, as part of the alignment process, all newly developed curriculum derived achievement standards would be covered by an AMAP that took account of the particular requirements of achievement standards.  This AMAP covers the new Level 1 achievement standards registered in December 2010.  The AMAP will also cover the new Level 2 and 3 achievement standards that will be registered in December 2011 and December 2012 respectively.

 

In parallel with this process, expiring Level 1 achievement and unit standards will remain covered by AMAP 0226 until they expire in December 2011.  The same approach will apply to Level 2 and 3 standards that will be designated expiring in December 2011 and December 2012 respectively.

 

AMAP for Achievement Standards was developed by MoE in consultation with NZQA officials.

 

Compliance with new requirements

 

Accreditation requirements will apply with effect from January 2011.

 

Moderation system requirements will apply with effect from January 2011.

 

Accredited organisations will be expected to be able to demonstrate compliance with AMAP requirements from July 2011 onwards.

 

New requirements

 

The following is a summary of the new requirements additional to those currently specified in AMAP 0226.

 

ACCREDITATION INFORMATION (AI)

 

Industry or sector-specific requirements for accreditation

·         Criterion 1 - new requirement that applicant organisations must have policies and procedures that ensure the development of teaching programmes that will be assessed by these achievement standards is based on The New Zealand Curriculum (2007).

·         Criterion 2 - new requirement that applicant organisations must have policies and procedures that ensure administrative systems and processes comply with NZQA's requirements for the enrolment of students for internal and/or external assessment and provision of opportunities for internal assessment.

·         Criterion 3 - new requirements that applicant organisations must have policies and procedures that ensure:

o       teaching and/or assessing staff have knowledge and skills and/or experience at a higher level than the standards that they are required to teach towards and/or assess against

o       teaching and/or assessing staff have an appropriate teaching qualification.  Examples of appropriate teaching qualifications include but are not limited to: a National Certificate or National Diploma in Adult Education and Training; Certificate or Diploma in Teaching; Bachelor of Education; Bachelor of Teaching; Graduate Diploma of Teaching

o       teaching and/or assessing staff have been trained in standards-based assessment and understand competency-based assessment practice which may be demonstrated through gaining credit for Unit 4098, Use standards to assess candidate performance, or being able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills

o       a job description and person specification is established for each teaching and/or assessing position

o       teaching and/or assessing staff undertake ongoing professional development

o       staff who take a lead role in their organisation's internal moderation and/or have responsibility for preparing external moderation material for submission to NZQA are competent in moderation practice which may be demonstrated through gaining credit for Unit 11551, Moderate assessment, or being able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.

·         Criterion 7 - new requirement that applicant organisations must have policies and procedures that ensure the relevant Rules and Procedures for assessment against achievement standards, as specified at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/qualifications/ncea/ncea-rules-and-procedures/, are complied with.

·         Criterion 8 - new requirement that applicant organisations must have policies and procedures that ensure information on enrolled students and their grade for internally assessed standards is reported to NZQA.