This is the second major thematic report drawing on findings from our 2006 NZCER National Survey of Secondary Schools. It analysed the responses given by parents, trustees, teachers and principals, to questions in the survey related to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
The report found strong levels of support for NCEA among principals (89 percent) and teachers (60 percent). The views of parents towards NCEA were characterised by high levels of uncertainty.
However, few parents, teachers or principals supported a return to the previous qualification system, or the design of a new system.
Dr Hipkins’ analysis found respondents fell into either a negative or positive camp in terms of their attitudes towards NCEA. When the NCEA answers were cross-tabulated with all other responses, it showed that those who were more negative about NCEA were more likely to be negative about other aspects of education.
Dr Hipkins suggests that the NCEA might be acting as a lightning rod for more general concerns. NCEA appeared to be strongest and most accepted in schools where there was an ongoing focus on how curriculum and learning needed to change to meet the needs of students in the twenty first century.