Government Proposes Replacing NCEA School System Amid Calls for Reform

By Editorial Team
Published: 3 minutes ago

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford have announced sweeping changes to the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NCEA) system, citing concerns that it is being “gamed” by students and educators alike. The proposal, unveiled in Auckland on Monday morning, aims to replace the current NCEA structure with a more standardized and industry-linked system.

Speaking to Nine to Noon, Minister Stanford emphasized that the NCEA system has become overly reliant on “credit counting,” where students accumulate credits through activities such as group projects or form-filling. “I can see the system is being gamed,” she said. “Credits are being used to get students across the line, like participating in a group activity or filling out a form.”

Under the new system, NCEA Level 1 will be replaced by a foundation award, which will focus on literacy and numeracy. Students will be required to take English and Mathematics at Year 11 and sit a foundation award in numeracy and literacy. NCEA Levels 2 and 3 will be replaced by the New Zealand Certificate of Education (for Year 12) and the Advanced Certificate (for Year 13), with students needing to take five subjects and pass at least four for each certificate.

The reforms will be phased in from next year, with the foundation award replacing Level 1 from 2028, and the new certificates in place by 2029 for Year 12 and 2030 for Year 13. The government also plans to work with industry to develop better vocational pathways, ensuring students are acquiring the skills relevant to specific career fields.

“This is about making sure our national qualification opens doors for every young person, whether they're heading into a trade, university, or straight into work,” Stanford said. The changes will be underpinned by a new national curriculum for Years 9 to 13, providing more consistency and clarity on what students need to learn in each subject and when.

The government’s decision marks a sharp reversal from the previous administration’s 2018/19 decision to retain NCEA Level 1, which had been controversial. Critics had argued that Level 1 was not meeting the needs of students, particularly those for whom it would be their highest qualification. The Education Review Office had previously recommended that Level 1 be scrapped or overhauled.

Consultation on the proposed reforms will begin next month, with the government having already invested $157.6 million from July 2021 to October 2024 in the setup and initial consultation for the NCEA Change Programme. The reforms are expected to bring greater consistency, reduce gaming of the system, and better align education with industry needs.

While the changes have been welcomed by some, others remain skeptical about the potential impact on students and schools. With the new system set to roll out over the next few years, the coming months will be crucial in shaping its final form.