1. Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Did the New Zealand Qualifications Authority implement 2005 Scholarship competently?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Yes, the 2005 scholarship exams were a vast improvement on those of 2004. The exam season went smoothly and the scholarship results and distribution of awards have been fair. After the problems of 2004 I believe that there is now a solid platform for ongoing improvement of the system. Scholarship is about recognising and rewarding excellence, and that is now happening.
Why, then, did the New Zealand Qualifications Authority approve a calculus exam where 50 percent of the students scored less than 5 percent and students who scored 18 percent won a scholarship, and a visual arts exam where 8 students who scored 100 percent—that is, full marks—were not awarded the top award?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Those are, of course, very good questions, and these are the answers. The answer to the calculus question is that I am advised that the level of achievement in calculus scholarship has been an issue for quite a number of years, but that scaling under the previous system meant it did not show up. I understand that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the scholarship advisory group have met with the calculus examiner to revise this year’s exam to ensure that more students can at least attempt the exam, while maintaining their high standard for scholarship. I am assured, however, that for this year the right students were awarded scholarship in calculus. Because the question is important, let me answer the other part of it as well, which is the visual arts question. Scholarship is awarded to a target percentage of students, to ensure a fair distribution of awards. In visual arts, the marking scheme made it a straightforward exercise to rank the top 25 students in order to identify the top 18 scholarship students.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Given the number of students who got zero—if Mr English could be quiet just for a moment—I understand that the Ministry of Education will review the current requirement to achieve excellence in the National Certificate of Educational Achievement at level 3, which is currently a co-requisite of being able to get scholarship. That is a problem, and that is something the ministry will review, because it seems to me, as I am sure the Opposition member would say, that it is impediment to people getting through to scholarship. Perhaps it should go.
Moana MackeyHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Following the issues of 2004, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority implemented recommendations from several inquiries and engaged independent expertise, including the internationally recognised assessment experts Gary Hawke, John Hattie, and Terry Crooks. Last year the Scholarship Reference Group, which involved representatives from the Post Primary Teachers Association, the New Zealand Principals Federation, colleges of education, the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand, and the Principals Council, made 25 recommendations to Cabinet for improvements to scholarship. Examples of improvement include the thorough process of daily checking and double-checking of marking processes, and a fairer system of distribution of awards to target percentages of students. The independent experts have gone on record as saying they are confident the results and distribution of awards for scholarship were robust and trustworthy.
If the process is so robust and trustworthy, why, then, did the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, in the last few weeks, award two extra premier scholarships worth $10,000 a year to two students who correctly complained that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority had altered the criteria for that premier academic award without telling anyone?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am advised that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority did not clearly explain that three outstanding scholarships was a minimum requirement for a premier award. Two students who received three outstanding scholarships felt that they had been led to believe they would get premier awards. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has now agreed to that, and we are making those extra awards.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have seen many reports and messages expressing confidence in scholarship in 2005. One states: “We are confident that the right students got scholarship.” The other states: “People should be considerably reassured about scholarship.” The third claims: “The 2005 results show the range of scholarship marks are far more sensible than in previous years.”, and a fourth stated that: “No doubt there has been an improvement on last year.” The first quote is from Gary Hawke, the second is from Paul Baker, the rector of Waitaki Boys High School, and the third and fourth are from Bill English.
Given that two students have now been awarded separately scholarships worth $10,000 a year because they correctly complained about the New Zealand Qualifications Authority secretly changing the criteria, how many other students could pick up $10,000 a year by writing in and complaining about the same ridiculous and incompetent error on the part of the authority? What does the Minister think that those students think about his administration of the whole thing?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I go back to the answer I gave before, because the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has been clear about this.
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am answering the question. I am advised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority that it did not clearly explain that three outstanding scholarships was a minimum requirement for the premier award. That involves two students. This was not secret. It was a mistake in the authority’s explanation, and no other students will be eligible.
Allan PeacheyIs the Minister concerned that worrisome difficulties with scholarship examinations for some subjects over the last 2 years have undermined the drive towards higher academic standards by our top secondary school students?
Have the problems that have come out of the last 2 years of scholarship examinations been caused by the Government’s requirement that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority use a standards-based methodology for scholarship, when, in fact, that may not be the most suitable methodology to identify the top New Zealand secondary school students in this case?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
That is a very good point. One of the things that has happened since last year is a change in the system of assessment, which had tried to find the best of the best but did not seem to do that. That is why we have the 25 recommendations, that is why there has been the change this year, and that is why everybody except the lone critic opposite believes we have made major advances, and are still doing so.
Can the Minister confirm that the two students who received the premier award worth $10,000 a year did so because the students themselves noticed that the criteria on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority website back in November were different from the criteria on the website in March of this year, that the authority did not pick up the problem and did not demonstrate good faith, and that it was not until the students picked up the problem and approached the Opposition and the authority that they were awarded the $10,000 scholarships, which they should have got in the first place?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I think what I have said already is the answer to the question. The member can keep asking it, but I will give him the same answer. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has made it clear that it thought it had explained the minimum requirements clearly. I confirm what the member said: the two students approached the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, which, in good faith, said yes, they had a right to say those things. It said it would change that, and they would now get the scholarships.