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A new study by an education expert shows NCEA is a world class qualification.
The study was undertaken by a University of Auckland professor and shows NCEA is better than any other system at identifying students who will do well at university.
Professor John Hattie says these findings fly in the face of recent bad publicity about the qualification.
He says it is much better than any of the international comparisons. He says the system also mimics what is wanted in the job sector.
A high school principal says the NCEA is being undermined by pressure on schools to push easy subjects, so their pass rates go up.
Wellington College principal Roger Moses says overall the NCEA is a good system, but there is so much pressure from the public to have a high pass rate it is forcing schools to take easy options.
Mr Moses says by offering easier subjects to get pass rates up, dumbing down will occur.
He says as long as there are national comparisons of pass rates, there is going to be pressure to get more students through by whatever means possible.
- NEWSTALK ZB
