Claytons Marks for Claytons Qualification

Concerned Teachers P.O. Box 5035 Papanui

“Concerned Teachers understands that the Government has reacted to National’s criticism over the removal of marks in the NCEA by introducing subject scores called ‘credit weighted grade scores’, Concerned Teachers’ spokesperson Peter Calvert said today. “Although these scores appear similar to a percentage ranging from zero to 96 per subject, the system Mr Mallard is set to announce is in fact mathematical trickery.”

“These are Claytons scores,” said Mr Calvert. “Just as Claytons (the old zero alcohol whisky substitute) looked like whisky and it apparently tasted like whisky, it didn’t fool anybody. The new mark bears no relationship to a percentage and it won’t fool anybody either. Students who put their name on all the test papers and nothing else will get 24 marks. How can this be anything other than a dumbing down?”

“Papers released under the Official Information Act make it clear how the complicated mathematical deception will be done,” said Mr Calvert. “The calculation is made by assigning a grade number between 0 to 4 for each Achievement Standard, of which there are normally eight per subject. ‘1’ means the standard was attempted but not passed; ‘2’ for a credit grade; ‘3’ a merit, and ‘4’ an excellence. Then multiply the grade number by the credit value for each standard, (there are 24 credits per subject) then add the results. A score between 0 and 96 results.”

“The NCEA itself has become the qualification you get when you’re not getting a qualification. Now it comes with a Claytons Score. The mark you get when when you haven’t got a percentage,” said Mr Calvert.

“Only last week the inventors of the qualification, the National Party, swallowed their pride and reversed their policy because they can see the disaster ahead for New Zealand young people if it goes ahead. Mr Mallard last week answered a question from United’s Peter Dunne about problems by saying reporting problems were to be fixed. This is not the way to do it.”

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For More information contact: Peter Calvert 021 2111 825 E-mail ConcernedTeachers@xtra.co.nz Website www.concernedteachers.com

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