<figure class="wp-block-audio"></figure>

If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.

If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.

1. Listening for main ideas

First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?

2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:

1. When do students usually work through the three NCEA levels?





2. What does each standard cover?





3. When was NCEA introduced?





4. According to the government, what are two reasons why NCEA should be replaced?





5. What would NCEA Level 3 be replaced with?





6. How many subjects would students need to pass in Years 12 and 13?





7. When will final decisions on this issue be made?





8. Give one reason why some teachers are concerned by this announcement.





9. Last year, what percentage of school leavers had no qualification?





10. Give two possible reasons why some students are leaving school with no qualification.

Text

Last week the government announced their proposal to replace the secondary school qualification NCEA.

NCEA stands for National Certificate in Educational Achievement. It has three levels, which students usually work through in years 11 to 13. Achievement in each subject is assessed through several standards, and each standard covers a specific set of skills and knowledge. When students achieve a standard, either in internal assessments or external exams, they gain credits, and they need to achieve a certain number of credits to pass each level. Their results are graded by the rankings “excellence, merit, achieved, not achieved”. NCEA was introduced between 2002 and 2004.

The government wants to replace NCEA because the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, said that it does not always deliver what students and employers need. The Education Minister, Erica Stanford, said that many parents find NCEA confusing and that students focus on counting credits to pass, rather than developing the important skills and knowledge they need to go onto further study, training, or work.

Therefore, the government is proposing to replace NCEA level 1 with a new Foundation Certificate, for which students would sit literacy and numeracy tests. NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 would be replaced with the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) respectively. In years 12 and 13, students would be required to take five subjects and pass at least four to gain each certificate. Marking would be out of 100, and grades would range from A to E – A, B, and C would be a pass, and D and E would be a fail. However, assessments would still be based on standards and there would still be a mix of internal assessments and external exams. The changes would be phased in over the next five years, starting in 2026. There will now be public consultation on this proposal until 15 September. After that, final decisions will be made.

There has been a mixed reaction to this announcement. Some teachers and teachers’ unions are pleased, because there have been problems with NCEA, especially with Level 1, and because the new qualifications would still be standards-based. However, union and principals’ representatives also say that the government would need to give teachers training, resources and time so that the changes could be introduced successfully. Some teachers are also concerned that this new qualification would not lead to more students leaving school with a qualification. Last year, 16 percent of school-leavers had no qualifications. This is the highest figure in a decade and may be a result of issues related to the Covid-19 lockdowns. Another reason may be that some students are leaving school to get work to support their families in the cost-of-living crisis.

Vocabulary

announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision

certificate – a qualification that someone gets after completing a course of study

ranking – a position on a scale, to show how good someone or something is

literacy – the ability to read and write

numeracy – the ability to count and do simple maths

principal – the head teacher, the person in charge of a school

crisis – a time of great danger or difficulty when there are many problems to try to solve or important decisions to make

Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.

a. When do students usually work through the three NCEA levels?

In years 11 to 13

b. What does each standard cover?

A specific set of skills and knowledge

c. When was NCEA introduced?

Between 2002 and 2004

d. According to the government, what are two reasons why NCEA should be replaced?

It does not always deliver what students and employers need; many parents find NCEA confusing; students focus on counting credits to pass, rather than developing the important skills and knowledge they need to go onto further study, training, or work.

e. What would NCEA Level 3 be replaced with?

New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE)

f. How many subjects would students need to pass in Years 12 and 13?

At least four

g. When will final decisions on this issue be made?

After 15 September, when public consultation ends

h. Give one reason why some teachers are concerned by this announcement.

They think this new qualification will not lead to more students leaving school with a qualification

i. Last year, what percentage of school leavers had no qualification?

16 percent.

j. Give two possible reasons why some students are leaving school with no qualification.

Issues related to the Covid-19 lockdowns; some students might leave school to get work to support their families in the cost-of-living crisis.