NCEA fails to make the grade with parents

Less than a third of parents have faith in secondary school qualifications and even fewer believe they provide a clear picture of what children can do.

A parental survey, commissioned by right-leaning policy think-tank the Maxim Institute, has revealed that just 31 per cent of the 1000 interviewed had confidence in the value of the NCEA. Only 27 per cent felt the system provided a clear measure of a pupil's abilities.

And 79 per cent of parents felt schools should have the freedom to offer alternative exams, such as Cambridge A-Levels.

Maxim Institute policy manager Nicki Taylor said the findings showed that confidence in NCEA was unacceptably low.

Parents wanted schools to be free to offer alternatives, but the Ministry of Education did not encourage that.

"Even worse, the ministry makes it very difficult for schools to do this," Mrs Taylor said.

The report, released today, is the first in a series carried out by Colmar Brunton on behalf of the institute. It concentrates on freedom in schools. Other reports will gauge parents' opinions on teachers, access to education and information on schools.

The findings show parents want schools given a free reign with less central Government management.

Mrs Taylor said parents recognised that local schools and communities, not bureaucrats, were in the strongest position to know what was best for their children.

"Parents would like to see schools trusted to make the important decisions that impact their children daily," she said.

The survey was completed last year, before the varied results of last November's Scholarship exams were known, which are likely to have further dented confidence in NCEA.

The report also showed a high number (76 per cent) of parents felt schools should be allowed to specialise in particular subject areas or sports, similar to "magnet schools" in the US. Such schools run also in Britain and Queensland and are intended to foster greater integration while raising achievement across the board by focusing on a particular area.

In New Zealand, such a plan would effectively see the end of zoning restrictions.

Mrs Taylor said the results reflected a Government out of touch with what parents wanted in schooling.

Graham Young, president of the Secondary Principals' Association, agreed there had been a move back to central control in the past few years, which had the potential to stifle creativity and individuality.

But he said schools did have the choice of introducing another exam system.

More than 40 nationwide now offer Cambridge A-Levels.

NCEA offered more opportunity for freedom in curriculum delivery.

"Historically, New Zealand did not have a good record of school-leavers gaining qualifications. That's not the case today."

Bali Haque, principal at Pakuranga College and an NCEA supporter, said he was not surprised at the views on the system, but the problem was building confidence rather than with the system itself.

"NCEA provides more freedom to schools in curriculum delivery than the previous system; that's what it was designed for," Mr Haque said.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard declined to comment as he had not seen the report.

Survey findings

79 per cent of parents want optional exams other than NCEA.
76 per cent support "specialist schools".
31 per cent have confidence in NCEA.
27 per cent believe NCEA provides a clear measure of a student's abilities.