Stop the squabbling and get on with it – NZSTA

Media release

Stop the squabbling and get on with it – NZSTA

School trustees are saying it’s time to stop squabbling over the new national qualification for secondary school students – and instead turn the attention to making sure the new system works.

New Zealand School Trustees Association president Chris France says the education sector needs to face up to the fact that the National Certificate of Educational Achievement will be a reality from next year.

He says Minister of Education Trevor Mallard has made it clear it will definitely be introduced so the sector now needs to put in the energy to make it a success.

Chris France says over the last two months he has visited a number of schools around the country, and an informal poll of about 40 college board of trustees reveals that more than three quarters of them want to see the NCEA up and running.

“The debate over outstanding issues such as assessment have all been raised. We’ve heard from the advocates and the opponents and now we have to move forward. The majority of trustees have made it clear they want to make the best out this and are hoping the rest of the sector is willing to show the same commitment.”

He says the current system isn’t fair to all students and NCEA should provide a more equitable recognition of the competencies and knowledge of all students.

“We need to be constantly looking at how the sector and system works and this sometimes results in change and improving the way we do things. Trustees feel we need to embrace NCEA as one more tool to bring a greater relevance into education for all students in the new millennium.”

Chris France says as with any change there will aspects that will need to be ironed out, but NCEA’s success will depend on input from the whole sector.

“The important issue now is for all of us to work through the issues of cost, workload and preparation together so we can make sure NCEA works to the benefit of our children.”

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For more information phone Chris France. Phone (025) 441-397

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