NZQA in trouble, Government warned

The exam system has come under fire. File picture / Hawke's Bay Today

Low morale and high staff attrition have left the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) in a vulnerable position, the Government has been warned.

The warning comes in the NZQA's briefing to incoming Education Minister Steve Maharey and follows a year in which it was the subject of three independent reviews and one internal review.

The reviews were triggered by unexpected variability in scholarship results and concerns about the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).

Acting chief executive Karen Sewell said the reviews had highlighted governance, management and capability issues within the NZQA.

"A programme for culture change and organisational development is required to address these issues," she said.

"In addition, the organisation is currently dealing with low morale, high attrition rates and an over-reliance on contract staff.

"All of these factors place the organisation in a vulnerable position; we are working to ameliorate these difficulties."

The reputation of the NZQA and the credibility of the NCEA and Scholarship had been damaged, with many parents, employers and members of the public lacking confidence in the qualifications, Ms Sewell said. As well, many did not understand them.

"Significant work will be required to rebuild public confidence," she said.

The briefing paper also warned of a "significant" claim for damages from a private training establishment (PTE), which had lodged a successful appeal against an NZQA audit decision.

A spokeswoman for Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen declined to name the PTE.

Staff turnover had been averaged 20 per cent for the past six years, with total staff of about 300.

Ms Sewell said measures were being taken to address the turnover but that it needed to be put into context.

"NZQA is a small, specialised agency which employs many people from the education sector who are committed to their calling, come to the agency to make a contribution and then move on to other parts of the education sector," she said in a statement.

"This is as it should be, and we need the input of these bright and talented people."

- NZPA