David Benson-Pope on resignation of NZQA Chief Executive:

Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope says he concurs with the judgment of New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) chief executive Karen Van Rooyen that the time is right for her to move on.

"Today's resignation of the Chief Executive, and last week's public apology by NZQA to students affected by the 2004 scholarship exams, clearly signal that NZQA accepts responsibility for problems with the administration of last year's New Zealand Scholarship."

Mr Benson-Pope says the introduction of NCEA has been the single biggest change to school-level assessment in this country's history.

"Generally the introduction of NCEA levels 1-3 has gone well," said Mr Benson-Pope. "However, difficulties in the introduction of the New Zealand Scholarship have dented the public's confidence in the assessment system.

"Now is the time to rebuild that confidence and the measures that the government is putting in place, on the advice of the education sector, will ensure that happens."

Mr Benson-Pope says that unlike most other government departments the chief executive of NZQA is appointed by, and is accountable to, the Board of that organisation.

Mr Benson-Pope says that he has been advised that Karen Van Rooyen has resigned as chief executive, effective Wednesday. She will remain working for the NZQA while she works out her contractual three months notice period. Mr Benson-Pope is advised Ms Van Rooyen is receiving no ex-gratia payments of any kind.

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