Canterbury Principal 'Not Buying Into Hysteria' Of NCEA Changes

Thursday, 7 August 2025, 5:26 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to scrap NCEA have received a mixed response from North Canterbury principals. 

Education Minister Erica Standard announced plans on Monday to replace NCEA level 2 and 3 with a New Zealand Certificate of Education and an Advanced Certificate, while level 1 will be scrapped altogether. 

Some schools are concerned at the speed of change, while others say reducing from three years of assessments to two will bring New Zealand into line with other countries. 

Under the proposal, NCEA will be phased out from 2028, with year 11 students sitting the literacy and numeracy tests which were introduced last year and are presently available from year 10.

Schools can also introduce their own assessment programmes for year 11 students.

‘‘This is about making sure our national qualification opens doors for every young person, whether they're heading into a trade, university, or straight into work,’’ Ms Stanford said. 

NCEA level 1 was the only qualification held by about nine percent of school leavers in most years of the past decade. 

Rangiora High School board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said his board supported changes that raised achievement and strengthened confidence in qualifications. 

‘‘We understand the need to replace NCEA, but the pace and scale of this shift are significant. 

‘‘Boards will want assurance that students are not disadvantaged during transition and that schools have the resources to adapt successfully.’’ 

Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said he was concerned the change will create extra work for schools and he questioned the timing, with teachers still in pay negotiations. 

‘‘We are not buying into the hysteria, we are not going to rush into it, but we will be prepared.

Removing level 1 could mean year 11 ‘‘ends up just being another year 10’’, and students could leave school with no qualifications, he said. 

Oxford Area School principal Mike Hart said he is a supporter of many aspects of NCEA, as it is ‘‘learner-centred’’ and offers flexibility ‘‘which acknowledges the variety of kura across the country and their own unique contexts’’. 

‘‘We were hopeful some of the positive recent changes to level 1 were going to continue through to level 2 and 3. 

‘‘Unfortunately this hasn't happened meaning we have a disconnect between level 1 and level 2/3.’’

Rangiora New Life School principal Stephen Walters said the proposed new qualifications could lead to positive change.

Virtually all of his students achieved level 2 and most stayed at school to year 13, so dropping level 1 would have little impact, he said. 

‘‘If we can have a school-based year 11 assessment to prepare students for year 12, then I’m comfortable,’’ he said. 

‘‘I was talking to some schools who have dropped level 1 and there are some good alternatives.’’ Consultation on the proposal will begin next month. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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