Media release
Stop the squabbling and get on with it – NZSTA
School trustees are saying it’s time to stop squabbling over the new national qualification for secondary school
students – and instead turn the attention to making sure the new system works.
New Zealand School Trustees Association president Chris France says the education sector needs to face up to the fact
that the National Certificate of Educational Achievement will be a reality from next year.
He says Minister of Education Trevor Mallard has made it clear it will definitely be introduced so the sector now needs
to put in the energy to make it a success.
Chris France says over the last two months he has visited a number of schools around the country, and an informal poll
of about 40 college board of trustees reveals that more than three quarters of them want to see the NCEA up and running.
“The debate over outstanding issues such as assessment have all been raised. We’ve heard from the advocates and the
opponents and now we have to move forward. The majority of trustees have made it clear they want to make the best out
this and are hoping the rest of the sector is willing to show the same commitment.”
He says the current system isn’t fair to all students and NCEA should provide a more equitable recognition of the
competencies and knowledge of all students.
“We need to be constantly looking at how the sector and system works and this sometimes results in change and improving
the way we do things. Trustees feel we need to embrace NCEA as one more tool to bring a greater relevance into education
for all students in the new millennium.”
Chris France says as with any change there will aspects that will need to be ironed out, but NCEA’s success will depend
on input from the whole sector.
“The important issue now is for all of us to work through the issues of cost, workload and preparation together so we
can make sure NCEA works to the benefit of our children.”
[ends]
For more information phone Chris France. Phone (025) 441-397