The election of Martin Cooney as junior vice-president of the Post Primary Teachers' Association would be a clear signal from teachers that the NCEA should not go ahead next year, National's Education Spokesperson Gerry Brownlee said today.

"The fact that Mr Cooney is standing for election on a clear 'anti-NCEA' platform shows the deep dissatisfaction among teachers with the way the National Certificate of Educational Achievement has been handled.

"Teachers have real concerns about moderation and resourcing. Workload issues are of such concern that teachers have already signalled that extra-curricula activities are likely to suffer.

"A recent NZ Herald poll showed 78% of principals support the NCEA. That was predictable as principals are in an unenviable position of having to give certainty for their pupils next year. What was more interesting was that 24% are investigating offering an alternative qualification to the NCEA. This poll also failed to recognise the deep unrest within the teaching profession about the qualification.

"Mr Cooney's candidacy certainly leaves the question of whether the NCEA can be successfully implemented next year, wide open," Mr Brownlee said.

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