4. ALLAN PEACHEY (National—Tāmaki) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What improvements will be made to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement from next year?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
From next year, course endorsements will be available for all National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) levels. Course endorsements will mean that students can aim for Excellence or Merit endorsements in individual courses, if they obtain at least 14 credits at these levels. When we signalled the introduction of course endorsements last year, we said that there would be a staggered roll-out, with the endorsements being available for NCEA level 1 next year, and for higher levels in subsequent years. I am very pleased to say that officials have progressed the work quickly, and that all students at all NCEA levels will be able to obtain course endorsements from next year.
We know from principals and teachers that overall certificate endorsement has motivated students to have their certificates endorsed with Merit or Excellence. This Government also wants to motivate students to obtain Merit or Excellence results in individual courses. We want to give students recognition for great results. That is why we put $2.4 million towards developing this measure in Budget 2009.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Why did she set NCEA level 2 as the benchmark against which her national standards are calibrated?
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
When the New Zealand Qualifications Authority this month proposed new literacy and numeracy standards, which NCEA level did it identify as being required for someone to fully participate in work?
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Given that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has said that the literacy and numeracy standards needed for someone to fully participate in work are level 1 standards, why has she said national standards based on NCEA level 2, on the grounds that research showed that NCEA level 2 was what—she said—was required to succeed in work? She said she was backed by research; what is that research?