MPs trade more blows over NCEA

Education Minister Steve Maharey and National Party education spokesman Bill English continued to trade barbs over NCEA exams yesterday.

Mr English has persistently criticised the way this year's papers are being marked.

Mr Maharey said the education sector wanted Mr English to stop trying to destroy the credibility of NCEA.

"The Government has moved to reassure people that marking is going according to plan and that when there are problems, NZQA [New Zealand Qualifications Authority] is being up-front and transparent."

Mr English said Mr Maharey should put his energy into fixing problems. "Students deserve fair and valid assessment. They are getting nothing from Steve Maharey but personal attacks and political point scoring."

Mr Maharey said NZQA chief executive Karen Sewell was happy for concerned markers to call her directly.

Mr English said approaches to Ms Sewell would be "worthless", which led the primary teachers' union to accuse him of a personal attack on a committed educationist.

The secondary teachers union said Mr English was turning the NCEA into a political football.

Mr English said he had not made a personal attack.

An email written by a school head of English, Sean Hawthorne, released yesterday by Mr Maharey, said that last year the exam was criticised for inconsistency but this year it drew flak for trying to maximise consistency.

"I feel [NCEA] is being used as a political football without principled positions being held," Mr Hawthorne said.

- NZPA