NCEA more popular at the chalkface

Support for NCEA has grown among principals and teachers since its introduction but many parents say they are still unsure about it, according to a new survey released today.

The survey, completed by the Council for Educational Research, canvassed the views of secondary school principals, teachers, trustees and parents on the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

Similar studies were done in 2003 and 2006.

Chief researcher Rosemary Hipkins said in her executive summary report that support for NCEA had steadily increased since 2003.

Principal support, which was always high, was "nearly unanimous in 2009".

Among teachers, more than two-thirds now supported the standards-based qualification - however, those in their first and second years of teaching were more likely to be unsupportive of it.

Dr Hipkins said levels of parental agreement about credibility matters were broadly unchanged from 2006, with many parents still unsure about their support for NCEA.

The level of support for NCEA tended to increase as the child progressed into their final years of the qualification. A small number of parents were, however, strongly opposed to it altogether.

Around half of the parents spoken to, particularly those from decile 9 and 10 schools, believed schools should offer alternatives to NCEA qualifications, such as Cambridge Examinations or the Baccalaureate.

Dr Hipkins said there had been some significant changes to NCEA structures and practices since the last survey in 2006.

Such changes included the introduction of an overall "merit" or "excellence" award for those students who achieved at higher levels across a range of subjects - a move which staff believed motivated high achievers, although it didn't help underachievers.

Moderation processes had also been revised to strengthen perceptions of their consistency and reliability, although the study found many principals and teachers believed there was still too much variation in moderation feedback.