Pandemic prompts NCEA and UE changes
Temporary changes to NCEA and University Entrance (UE) requirements have been announced to help students make up for coronavirus disruptions.
Changes include students being able to earn an additional one ‘‘learning recognition’’ NCEA credit for every five credits they earn, as well as reductions in the number of credits needed to obtain UE and/or receive a merit or excellence endorsement.
The temporary adjustments were announced yesterday by
Education Minister Chris Hipkins, who said Covid-19 created ‘‘massive’’ disruption and the Government was moving to ensure students were not penalised, while preserving the integrity of the national qualification.
Twelve NCEA credits in three approved subjects will be required to gain UE, down from the original 14. Forty-six credits is the magic number for getting a merit or excellence endorsement, from 50, and 12 merit or excellence credits in a particular subject will earn an endorsement in that subject, down from 14.
‘‘This ... recognises that students may not have had the same opportunity to achieve as in other years,’’
Hipkins said.
He also asked
NZQA and the Education
Ministry to consider how schools might identify and collect evidence that could be used to credit learning and skills gained by young people outside of their formal school programme of learning, he said.
The changes were endorsed by the NCEA professional advisory group, Hipkins said.
Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) president Jack Boyle said the changes ‘‘struck a good balance ... the difficulties around Covid-19 have been recognised and this is a signal to learners and families that things are going to be OK.’’
The impact on both teachers and students had been considered, while also retaining thresholds to ensure students were ready for work or tertiary study upon completing their qualification, Boyle said.
‘‘It’s pretty cool to see, given all things considered.
‘‘It’s a good balance and it’s doable. When we moved to alert level 3 we were given an immediate and clear announcement on exam and portfolio extensions, and the same has happened here now in level 2.
‘‘Work has been done to meet the needs of teachers and workers and we are in a really good spot.’’
Last month, the Government announced that as a result of the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, exams would be pushed back by 10 days, to November 16, to give students more time to prepare, as well as extending the deadline for portfolio-based subjects, and removing NZQA verification of visual art portfolios at levels 1 and 2.