An independent expert panel is calling for changes to New Zealand’s new secondary school qualification system, warning the reforms must provide enough flexibility to deliver equitable outcomes for all ākonga.
The Tirotiro Anō panel, commissioned by PPTA Te Wehengarua and made up of current and former teachers, school leaders, researchers and assessment specialists, says uncertainty around the qualification design has undermined confidence about equity, flexibility and implementation.
Of particular concern is the potential impact on Māori and Pacific learners and disabled students, with the panel pointing to Ministry of Education analysis indicating some proposed settings could affect these groups disproportionately.
The panel is also calling for stronger evidence that the reforms meet Te Tiriti obligations, including meaningful Māori influence in decision-making and active protection of te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori.
The Government is replacing NCEA with the New Zealand Certificate of Education at Year 12 and New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education at Year 13, with the new system being progressively introduced from 2028.
The panel says there is still an opportunity to address its concerns as the country prepares for one of the biggest changes to secondary qualifications in decades.
#Education #NCEA #NZCE #NZACE #MāoriEducation #AkongaMāori #TeReoMāori #MātaurangaMāori #TeTiriti #PPTA #TirotiroAno #SecondaryEducation #EducationReform #Rangatahi #Schools #Aotearoa #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea
