Question triggers fresh flak for NZQA

A history exam question that infuriated the National Party should have been set differently, Secondary Principals Association president Paul Ferris says.

Parliament's education and science select committee is holding an inquiry into allegations of political bias at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority over the Level 1 National Certificate of Educational Achievement history question.

It asked students to choose two of three people from whose perspective to write on land issues: prominent Maori leaders Dame Whina Cooper and Eva Rickard and a "National Party member of Parliament not sympathetic to Maori concerns".

It was accompanied by an illustration of a balding Pakeha National MP, who some claimed resembled party leader Don Brash.

Mr Ferris told the committee yesterday that he believed there was no space for questions that challenged students' "emerging political, religious or moral formation".

At high school age, many students' views on those matters were received from their families. Questions that could be construed as biased, by singling out a group in an unfavourable light, would automatically alienate some students.

In setting the question with reference to a political party, the NZQA had failed to apply proper quality standards, he said.

Post Primary Teachers Association president Phil Smith said the NZQA had, until recently, failed to explain or involve teachers in the exam-setting process. Naming the politician as a National MP rather than as an MP promoting the prevailing view of the government at the time was "unfortunate".

However, New Zealand History Teachers Association chairman Gregor Fountain said the question was factual and teachers he had spoken to had no problem with it.

In February, NZQA chief executive Karen Van Rooyen told the committee the question was about a historical period, and "not about the views of the National Party or National MPs now". There had been no intended resemblance to Dr Brash in the picture.

- NZPA