In February 2020, the Cabinet confirmed a package of seven changes to strengthen NCEA. These changes are:
- Make NCEA more accessible — zero fees, fewer barriers for learners with disabilities and learning support needs.
- Mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori (equal status for mātauranga Māori in NCEA) – develop new ways to recognise mātauranga Māori, build teacher capability, and improve resourcing and support for Māori learners and te ao Māori pathways.
- Strengthen literacy and numeracy standards and assessments – ensure students with an NCEA have functional literacy and numeracy skills that will ready them to transition into tertiary education or the workplace.
- Fewer, larger standards – new achievement standards and resources will be developed to replace existing standards and ensure the qualification achieved credentials the most significant learning in a learning area or subject.
- Simplify NCEA’s structure – credits can no longer be carried over to the next level and resubmissions will only be allowed where they take students from a ‘Not Achieved’ grade to an ‘Achieved’ grade. Sixty credits are required to pass each NCEA level.
- Clearer pathways to further education or work – develop a Vocational Entrance Award to clearly signal when a student is ready to transition into higher level vocational education and strengthen vocational pathways through NCEA.
- Keep NCEA Level 1 optional – ensure Level 1 provides students with the broad, foundational knowledge needed to support specialisation at Levels 2 and 3.
Learn more about the changes to NCEA:
In February 2020, the Cabinet confirmed a package of seven changes to strengthen NCEA. These changes are:
- Make NCEA more accessible — zero fees, fewer barriers for learners with disabilities and learning support needs.
- Mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori (equal status for mātauranga Māori in NCEA) – develop new ways to recognise mātauranga Māori, build teacher capability, and improve resourcing and support for Māori learners and te ao Māori pathways.
- Strengthen literacy and numeracy standards and assessments – ensure students with an NCEA have functional literacy and numeracy skills that will ready them to transition into tertiary education or the workplace.
- Fewer, larger standards – new achievement standards and resources will be developed to replace existing standards and ensure the qualification achieved credentials the most significant learning in a learning area or subject.
- Simplify NCEA’s structure – credits can no longer be carried over to the next level and resubmissions will only be allowed where they take students from a ‘Not Achieved’ grade to an ‘Achieved’ grade. Sixty credits are required to pass each NCEA level.
- Clearer pathways to further education or work – develop a Vocational Entrance Award to clearly signal when a student is ready to transition into higher level vocational education and strengthen vocational pathways through NCEA.
- Keep NCEA Level 1 optional – ensure Level 1 provides students with the broad, foundational knowledge needed to support specialisation at Levels 2 and 3.
Learn more about the changes to NCEA: