Today a petition was launched on Change.org and across social media for the Minister of Education to appoint a student
to the NZQA Board. This would give students a voice in the future of our assessment system. The time of student ideas
begin lost or ridiculed stops now.
Petition creator Ben Fraser said “I’ve had several difficult experiences with exams over the past two years. These
experiences motivated me to look for channels to share my views with NZQA about how they could improve our exams. Yet I
could find no way to do so. A student voice gives a path for students experiences to be shared with NZQA.”
The content of the petition reads:
“NZQA is responsible for adjudicating the assessments of thousands of students around the country, yet students are
unrepresented in the organisations decision-making.
Recent issues that have arisen regarding NZQA assessments include the quality of assessments, internal and external
standards and digital examinations. These are areas where students should have their say on an ongoing basis, not just
during brief consultation periods.
We deserve our voices to be heard. The NZQA Board is appointed by the Minister for Education and there is no legislation
that prevents him from appointing a student to this Board. In fact, student would improve the Board as we have the
greatest interest in ensuring NZQA is effective.
The only way to ensure that NZQA respects the views of students is to let the Minister know that you want a voice in our
education system. Your support can help all students have their voice be heard.”