'No time' for NCEA exams

Teenagers' apathetic attitude towards senior exams is worrying Bay of Plenty principals, who say students are no longer striving for excellence.

But students say there is not enough time to add exam study to their timetables under the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), as they are bombarded with assessments throughout the year.

After the completion of senior school internal practice exams last term, principals say students are now choosing which assessments to work hard for, and letting others slip.

Even then, they are aiming for an achievement mark rather than for excellence.

This year is the first time students continuing on to tertiary education will leave high school with NCEA rather than Bursary qualifications.

But end-of-year exam results are also important as some courses require excellent or merit credits and students are ranked for admission.

Mt Maunganui College principal Terry Collett said results of recent internal exams showed students were not putting in the effort.

"[Students] have realised they can improve their grade-point average by choosing achievement standards they know they will do well in," he said.

In a Colmar Brunton survey of 1780 parents nationwide, 46 per cent reported a heavier workload compared with Bursary requirements.

- NZPA