Press Council decision - PPTA response to media:

Deborah Coddington's article, Blowing the Whistle on NCEA in North & South magazine has breached principle one, concerning fairness and balance finds the New Zealand Press Council.

President Robin Duff said PPTA were pleased the council had upheld PPTA's complaint, saying Coddington's article delivered a one-sided critique of NCEA.

"This decision reinforces the need for responsible journalism. Students in New Zealand have the right to have confidence in their national qualification," said Duff.

Coddington made claims in her article that NZQA were "fudging figures" and manipulating marks based singularly on information from a source known only as "anonymous Pete," and did not seek comment from those slammed in the article.

"The article was unbalanced as the reporter made no attempt at speaking with the PPTA, the Ministry of Education, NZQA, or other teachers," said Duff.

The report found that it was, "unconvincing for the magazine to argue that there was no requirement for it to seek balancing comment from NZQA when specific allegations of manipulating marks and figures were being made about the organisation."

The report also said "allegations against teachers should have been put to the PPTA as their representative body."

Duff said he was pleased the council had reached this decision as the persistent criticism of NCEA in the media wasn't helpful for students and teachers and was ultimately unfair and irresponsible.

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