Principals’ open letter criticises NCEA review, draws response from minister
AUCKLAND: Education Minister Chris Hipkins says four months is long enough for a review of NCEA but he is open to extending it in the wake of an open protest letter by 40 Auckland secondary school principals.
The principals are calling for the review to reviewed.
‘‘We think that is a reasonably good consultation period time,’’ Mr Hipkins told reporters at Parliament yesterday.
‘‘If at the end of that people are still saying ‘hey, we don’t feel like we’ve had the chance to have our voices heard’, then we are certainly open to discussing that further.
‘‘We don’t want to rush this. We do want to make sure that everybody who has got a view has the opportunity to participate in the process.’’
He made his comments in the wake of a fullpage ad in the Herald on Sunday giving the minister a ‘‘Fail’’ on the NCEA review.
‘‘Too rushed Minister Hipkins,’’ the ad said. ‘‘Not enough thought. Must do better for our young people.’’
The principals are not opposed to the review, and in fact say it is necessary for improvements.
‘‘But the review is flawed and we will not stand idle on the sidelines watching a fraught process pass us by.’’
They say there has been a lack of process with secondary school principals.
Students aged 5 to 18 had been targeted to enter competitions to ‘‘express themselves’’, with prizes valued at over $27,000.
‘‘We suggest that those with experience in the sector (teachers and principals) should have been asked directly for feedback.
‘‘We are the guardians of young people’s secondary school education and believe our input is essential.’’
Mr Hipkins said the review was not just about principals and the review panel of seven had to involve everybody in it.
‘‘We want to hear from principals and we want to hear from young people. I do disagree with the principals’ view that the voices of young people are not important in this process.
‘‘Ultimately, it is their futures we are talking about.’’
He had been ‘‘a little disappointed’’ when he saw the open protest letter but the principals would be given ample opportunity to be fully engaged.
‘‘This is not a predetermined review. We’ve basically put some big ideas out there. That was done by an independent review panel. The Government has not made any decisions about what the future of the NCEA might look like.’’
Mr Hipkins was not surprised by some of the principals’ names on the letter.
‘‘Their views on NCEA are well known — they are much more traditional in their thinking. We do want to hear from them but also want to hear from people with different views.’’
The principals said two things needed to happen: fix the teacher supply and establish a consensus on the curriculum. That would provide ‘‘a sound foundation to improve the existing NCEA assessment system’’.