National promises boost in Bursary exam rewards

A National government would boost the amount of money students get if they pass Bursary examinations.

Party leader Bill English, announcing his school qualifications policy yesterday, said success should be rewarded.

"The current rewards for Bursary exam success are a joke and need revising. The recent Government exam fees hike means that a student now pays $185 to sit, yet receives only $100 for a B Bursary and $200 for an A Bursary.

"This is no incentive. We want to encourage excellence so we intend to increase the value of the Bursary qualification for this and future years' candidates, with a payment of $2000 for an A Bursary and $1000 for a B Bursary."

Mr English said the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) was "in trouble, with doubt existing that students doing level one at Year 11 (fifth form) would even get a qualification this year".

The system could work if it was modified and properly resourced, Mr English said.

National would review the NCEA to:

* Ensure it increased the use of external examinations.

* Reported achievement standards with percentage marks.

* Recorded students' success and failure.

* Reduced teacher workloads.

National would take the NCEA to level two (Year 12 next year) only if level one was successfully implemented and the secondary teachers collective employment contract was ratified.

The NCEA at Year 13 would go ahead only if those involved backed it.

- NZPA