Education Minister Chris Hipkins has responded to the criticism from Principals over the NCEA review.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins says four months is long enough for a review of NCEA but says he is open to extending it in the wake of an open protest letter by 40 Auckland secondary school principals.
The principals are calling for the review to reviewed.
"We think that is a reasonably good consultation period time," Hipkins told reporters at Parliament today.
"If at the end of that people are still saying 'hey, we don't feel like we've had the chance to have our voices heard', then we certainly open to discussing that further.
"We don't want to rush this. We do want to make sure that everybody who has got a view has the opportunity to participate in the process."
"But the review is flawed and we will not stand idle on the sidelines watching a fraught process pass us by."
They say there has been a lack of process with secondary school principals.
Students aged 5 to 18 had been targeted to enter competitions to "express themselves", with prizes valued at over $27,000.
"We suggest that those with experience in the sector (teachers and principals) should have been asked directly for feedback.
"We are the guardians of young people's secondary school education and believe our input is essential."
Hipkins said that the review was not just about principals and the review panel of seven had to involve everybody in it.
"We want to hear from principals and we want to hear from young people. I do disagree with the principals' view that the voices of young people are not important in this process.
"Ultimately it is their futures we are talking about."
Hipkins said the principals' reference in the ad to the contribution of young voices could be read a number of different ways.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins says he was 'a little disappointed' with the open letter from principals.
He had been "a little disappointed" when he saw the open protest letter in the paper but they would be given ample opportunity to be fully engaged with the process.
"This is not a pre-determined review. We've basically put some big ideas out there. That was done by an independent review panel. The Government has not made any decisions about what the future of the NCEA might look like."
Hipkins said some of the names of principals on the open letter were not a surprise.
"Their views on NCEA are well known - they are much more traditional in their thinking. "We do want to hear from them but also want to hear from people with different views."
The principals said two things needed to happen: Fix the teacher supply and establish a consensus on the curriculum.
"With teacher supply secured and a curriculum in place, we would have a sound foundation to improve the existing NCEA assessment system.
"The starting point should be direct consultation with second school principals."
Brent Lewis, Avondale College Sandy Pasley, Baradene College Craig Waller, Birkenhead College Myles Hogarty, De la Salle College Paul McKinley, Glenfield College Steve McCracken, Kaipara College Simon Lamb, King's College Chris Rooney, Liston College CJ Healey, Long Bay College Steven Hargreaves, Macleans College Nick Coughlan, One Tree Hill College Patrick Gale, Rangitoto College Nixon Cooper, Rosmini College Gary Moore, Rutherford College Jim Dale, Sacred Heart College Robin Staples, Southern Cross Campus Justine Mahon, St Cuthbert's College Kieran Fouhy, St Paul's College James Bentley, St Peter's College Mark Shanahan, Waitakere College Brian Evans, Wesley College Tim O'Connor, Auckland Grammar School Donald MacLean, Dilworth School Heather McRae, Diocesan School for Girls Michael Purcell, Henderson High School Grant McMillan, James Cook High School Adeline Blair, Kelston Boys' High School Glen Denham, Massey High School Patrick Drumm, Mt Albert Grammar School Alex Reed, Pinehurst School Mary Nixon, Takapuna Grammar School Rockley Montgomery, Vanguard Military School David Ferguson, Westlake Boys' High School Jane Stanley, Westlake Girls' High School John Morris, Past Headmaster Auckland Grammar Byron Bentley, Past Principal Macleans College John Taylor, Past Headmaster King's College
