Teachers seek wider entrance to varsity

Technology and performance music could become valid options to win a university place under moves to be more even-handed to those wanting to study for a degree.

The Qualifications Authority wants the sector to flag possible improvements to the university entrance system, which is designed to indicate who is likely to pass degree-level education.

And teachers want changes after fewer people reached the required standard last year.

But it could set them on a collision course with universities who are less willing to alter a system only just bedding down after the introduction of new secondary school qualifications.

The Post-Primary Teachers Association believes the list should be widened, in effect relaxing rules for entrance to universities.

Association advisory officer Judie Alison said subjects were "clamouring" to make the list.

"Quite a few of them have a strong case so this needs to be addressed."

The PPTA proposes to fill perceived gaps where, for example, a brilliant violinist can only use music theory qualifications for entrance to varsity.

Technology, meanwhile, has become a course based partly on theory rather than its practical tradition alone.

But Professor Roger Field, of Lincoln University, the chairman of the Vice-Chancellors' Committee's university academic programmes committee, said adding subjects would not necessarily improve the system.

University entrance was less about the subjects than about ensuring those who studied for a degree had a "fair and reasonable chance" of success.

"I would caution against changing anything too rapidly," said Professor Field.

Inconsistencies in last year's NCEA results are blamed for creating disparities in the number of students going on to university.

Professor Field said the system needed more time to bed down to see whether there was any impact on university entrance.

Other changes flagged for discussion by the Qualifications Authority include the literacy and numeracy standards, and the make-up of the required qualifications.

Just over 47 per cent of students reached the entrance standard last year, compared with almost 52 per cent in 2003 and 51 per cent in 2002.

About 8 per cent missed out solely because of the literacy standard, but 18 per cent did not achieve entrance because their qualifications were in the wrong configuration.

Paul Ferris, who represents the Secondary Principals Association on the Qualifications Authority working group, said changes were needed because a significant number of students were either advantaged or disadvantaged by their choice of subjects.

He said there was "tension" surrounding the list of approved subjects, with universities wanting people to meet a certain standard and schools being judged on their university entrance rates.

"The keys are whether the entrance level predicts success and whether the bar is set at the right level."

Consultation closes at the beginning of next month. Any changes will not be implemented until 2007.

How it works

University entrance is based on qualifications from a list of 37 approved subjects, which has been adapted over the years to include topics such as media studies, photography and other practical arts, alongside traditional academic subjects.

Students must have a minimum of 42 credits at NCEA level 3 or higher.

These must include a minimum of 14 credits in each of two subjects from an approved list, and a further 14 from no more than two additional subjects.

Candidates must also achieve eight credits in literacy at level 2 or higher - four in reading and four in writing, and 14 credits in maths at level 1 or higher.