The Government has unveiled further details of its planned replacement for NCEA, confirming a new subject-based qualification system aimed at making student achievement easier for employers, parents and tertiary institutions to understand.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said the new system would introduce clearer standards and stronger academic expectations for senior secondary students.
Under the changes, NCEA will be phased out and replaced with two new qualifications — the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) at Year 12 level and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) at Year 13.
Students will study at least five subjects each year, with a minimum of three subjects required to gain each qualification. A new literacy and numeracy Foundational Award, benchmarked at Year 11 level, will also become compulsory before students can receive either qualification.
Stanford said the reforms were intended to create qualifications that were “clear, rigorous and widely understood”.
The new system will use a six-point grading scale ranging from A+ to E for every subject, replacing the current achievement standard framework used under NCEA.
Certificates will show the number of subjects passed and the grade achieved in each subject, while students who perform strongly across all five subjects will be eligible for endorsement awards recognising academic and vocational excellence.
Every subject will include both internal assessments and an examination, although the weighting of exams will differ depending on the subject area.
The qualification overhaul is being developed alongside a revised senior secondary curriculum, which the Government says will place greater emphasis on structured, knowledge-rich learning.
From 2028, Science | Pūtaiao will become compulsory in Year 11 alongside English | Te Reo Rangatira and Mathematics | Pāngarau.
Stanford said science education was critical for developing future innovators and problem-solvers.
The Government also confirmed a range of new subjects planned for the curriculum, including Civics, Politics and Philosophy, Journalism, Media and Communications, and Advanced Mathematics.
Industry-developed vocational subjects such as Building and Construction, Outdoor Education and Primary Industries will also be included in the qualification framework.
Today’s Year 9 students are expected to be the first group to move through the new qualification system.
Image credit: Max Fischer
Not being sure what “English | Te Reo Rangatira” exactly meant I asked google, and here is the answer…
“Te Reo Rangatira translates to “the chiefly language” or “the noble language” in English. In the New Zealand education system, it refers to an advanced Māori-language curriculum and subject area designed for native speakers and students in Māori-medium schools.”
Which should clear things up, although when looking closer into the details it gets a bit fuzzy again…
https://pld.education.govt.nz/news/professional-learning-and-development-offerings-2026/
Very fuzzy indeed, but no doubt by design. In the context of New Zealand’s education system (like NCEA), “Te Reo Rangatira” refers to the subject taught as a first language for fluent speakers. It is a term used to describe the Māori language. Well, that’s not very English is it Stanford.
From 2028, Science will become compulsory in Year 11 alongside English and Mathematics.
FIFY
Plenty of time to learn that dead Polynesian dialect nside.
The government should completely reform and revolutionize the teaching profession and make teachers fit for purpose. If we want to improve student performance, teachers should be independently audited by professionals outside the teaching industry.
Again, the goal posts are being moved at the expense of the students.
Nothing to address bullying, attacks and killings that go underreported…
(‘Bus stop wet day’ does not share my umbrella, but tried to stab me AT the bus stop with her brollie’ tip!)
The students now have higher anxiety levels than before…!
NOTE TO STUDENTS; If you don’t make the grade (of which some grades have been proven to be tampered with by the Status-Quo as late as 2 years ago…) at the end of High School, and cannot get into Uni, then take-up a trade and work until you turn 21 and become an ‘Adult Student’.
That way, your trade wages will pay for Uni, you won’t be in debt, and you’ll always have that trade to fall back on.
And you’ll have full legal rights at age 21 to sue the institution in the event you are blocked or prevented from enroling by the PTB, the Status-Quo, or an entity that has targeted you for a lifetime of marginalisation!!! & THAT will come out in court too!
https://www.reddit.com/r/ncea/comments/1hopwmu/confused_about_my_ncea_results_grade_reduction/
DO N OT SIGN ANYTHING THAT STATES YOU AGREE WITH THE EXAM RESULTS! Turn that over to your Solicitor / Lawyer for legal advice and action that might be taken!
https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/student-assessment-hub/ncea-results/
IF you discover coincidences that you cannot find a job or profession after graduating from Uni, then there is a good chance that you or your family have been targeted for disenfranchisement, marginalisation, and boycotting by the Status-Quo ‘Powers That Be’ (ie Masonjic family members scoring lower yet are able to get scholarships and Uni placements…)!
This could perhaps explain why many great Kiwi minds are leaving the country…!