Resource concerns for learning disabilities in schools

College students with learning disabilities won't have to fork out hundreds of dollars to be assessed for exam help in a move from NZQA and the Ministry of Education.

But there are concerns schools will not be able to resource the move without extra funding.

Mount Maunganui College principal Russell Gordon said the positive aspect of the move was students with learning needs could reach their potential with the help of a reader/writer. The negative side was more students would now be able to access this support and schools would have to fund it within their already stretched budgets.

People with reader/writer's skills were also hard to come by, Mr Gordon said.

Students who needed reader/writer help also had to have a separate room made available and finding the space would be an issue.

Mr Gordon said he "applauded" allowing children every chance of success by loosening the rules around special assessment conditions.

Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand chair of trustees Guy Pope-Mayell said it was a good move as it would take the onus off parents to pay for an assessment.

But Mr Pope-Mayell was concerned schools would not have the finances or trained staff to put this into action.

He said about 1 per cent of students nationally were accessing special assessment conditions and he expected this to rise dramatically.

"Within five years we should start to see between eight to 12 per cent of students at high school receiving some sort of special assessment conditions.

"The problem that high schools have is they may have someone qualified as a reader/writer, but that person is now not enough for the demand."

Helping students with special learning needs to achieve was one of the simplest ways to lift achievement as a country as these students were often intelligent. He said it could be the difference between a student going from a Not Achieved to an Achieved grade, or even from an Achieved to an Excellence grade.

"They have moderate needs that can make a world of difference."

Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell said there were a lot of hoops to jump through for a special learning needs student to access special assessment conditions and the changes would help these students.

He said he hoped it would not "open the flood gates" as reader/writers were a limited resource.

What are the changes?

• In March, NZQA and the Ministry of Education reviewed the use of Special Assessment Conditions in NCEA exams.
• These conditions allow for students with special learning needs, such as special learning disabilities or a permanent sensory, physical or medical condition, to access help for exams.
• This can take the form of a reader/writer, technology support or extra time.
• The review found lower decile schools were less likely to apply for exam help for their students with special learning needs, and that the $400 to $700 cost of an independent expert assessment was one of the barriers.
• NZQA redesigned an alternative application process that is free to students.
• Applications made this way use teacher observation and assessment information rather than an independent expert's report.
• Schools must ensure that Special Assessment Conditions are appropriate for students and the standards required for them to pass are not beyond their physical or learning ability.
• The Ministry of Education will target 250 of the country's 518 secondary and composite schools to ensure eligible students apply for special assessment.
• The changes will be made in time for the end of year exams.
• More than 5100 applications for 2014 have been received - 191 from the Bay of Plenty region.

- Ministry of Education and NZQA