KEY POINTS:
A revamp of the NCEA exam system is not enough to motivate gifted students, opposition parties say.
Students are to be rated with marks from "excellence" down to "not achieved" under changes announced by the Government today.
But the overhaul has not satisfied opponents of the system, who say it is too little, too late.
United Future education spokesperson Judy Turner said: "For as long as the majority of students all receive exactly the same grade (achieved), the system will de-motivate students - particularly boys who are falling further behind and dropping out in huge numbers under NCEA."
The shakeup comes in response to criticism that school students have been discouraged from excelling due to the way the system is structured, leading to some schools adopting other exams such as the Cambridge model.
Both students and some parents have called for more differentiation of grades in order to motivate good students.
Education Minister Steve Maharey also announced this morning that changes would be made to the way internally-assessed work is moderated.
National dismissed the changes as "hypocritical politicking" and said it had been demanding some of the changes for years.
Education spokeswoman Katherine Rich said: "The Minister presents these changes to NCEA as a chimp-simple solution to concerns. The reality of what he proposes will not necessarily appease critics' concerns, particularly about NCEA's ability to motivate students."
She added: "For six years Labour has dismissed all criticism of NCEA and repeatedly told students, parents and educators that nothing was wrong.
"Today, in a stunning example of political amnesia, Steve Maharey unveiled a list of changes that only last year he personally opposed."
However, Mr Maharey NCEA said was already a "world-class qualifications system" which challenged students, recognised their achievement, and prepared students well for university.
He added: "The operational side of NCEA is now working well, and today's announcement focuses on further refining the design of the system.
"The changes will increase student motivation, provide more detailed information on their achievement, and further improve consistency in NCEA.
The Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) welcomed the changes to moderation and president Robin Duff said creating new higher grades was "a genuine attempt to encourage more students to aim even higher".
Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said the changes would give greater confidence to employers.
The improvements, which follow 191 recommendations from three reviews of NCEA in 2005, include:
* Introducing 'excellence' and 'merit' to NCEA certificates from 2007
* Introducing 'excellence' and 'merit' at subject level from 2008
* Including 'not achieved' in NCEA results notices for both internally-assessed and externally-assessed standards from 2008
* Up to 10 per cent of internally-assessed standards will be moderated by full-time moderators appointed to NZQA from 2008
* A new 'School Results Summary' will also be introduced from 2008 that includes all of a students' results 'achieved' and 'not achieved' in NCEA during their time at school
* The lifelong 'Record of Learning' will become the 'Record of Achievement' for both tertiary and secondary students.
Green Party Education Spokesperson Metiria Turei said: "I am very pleased that the Government has chosen to adapt the new system to make it work better and I am hopeful the announced changes will give students and their families a better understanding of the students' achievements and skills.
"We hope that schools will be supported in managing students through this fairly major change midway through the academic year. Students started this year with one set of expectations about how they would be assessed and now the goalposts are shifting."
The changes are the result of discussions between the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and principals, teachers, students, and various education sector bodies like the PPTA and school trustees, Mr Maharey said.
Of the 191 recommendations in 2005, 168 have already been acted on, 14 are ongoing and four relate to scholarship.
Cabinet will hear plans for an overhaul of scholarship in June.
- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA
