NCEA shaping up to split union

By DITA DE BONI

A nationwide split in the secondary teachers union, the PPTA, is looming if teachers cannot decide whether to implement Level 2 of the NCEA.

Post Primary Teachers Association delegates at the union's annual meeting in Wellington heard yesterday that a dangerous division was emerging over whether to institute a union-wide ban on next year's introduction of Level 2, or to allow schools that want to go ahead with it to do so.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard has told schools it is up to them to decide whether to implement Level 2 of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement and he may reluctantly agree.

The union, meanwhile, is refusing to work towards Level 2 at present, and fears teachers will have no opportunity to protest at what it describes as Level 1's chaotic implementation if it agrees to go ahead with further levels.

But some branches, including some Auckland schools that support the qualification, have threatened to withdraw from the PPTA if the union puts a blanket ban on the continuation of the qualification.

It is also concerned that NCEA is being used by the ministry to drive a wedge through the membership.

Incoming PPTA president Phil Smith, head of the history department at James Hargest High School in Invercargill, said the union had a "very important decision to make - how to stand together to work toward goals that advance secondary school education as well as upholding the diverse position of our members".

Mr Smith said the union had to make a decision that would send a message to the Qualifications Authority and the ministry that its performance over Level 1 had not been good enough. It also had to avoid playing into the hands of the minister by imploding over Level 2 and could not look weak.

The PPTA is seeking consensus from members over a compromise solution that would effectively allow schools - some of which have ignored PPTA directives to boycott Level 2 - to proceed with the qualification if they want to.

It also sets out a timetable it feels is more appropriate to manage all levels of the NCEA. According to its proposed timetable, Level 2 would be fully implemented in 2004 and Level 3 fully implemented in 2005.

Delegates are still debating whether to adopt the executive plan. But in separate sessions yesterday they expressed grave doubts about how Level 2 could go ahead with Level 1 problems not yet resolved.

Jon Hasler from Auckland Grammar said it was not known exactly how divided opinion was.

A ballot in June had revealed around three-quarters of teachers did not want Level 2 to go ahead, but some had since softened their stance after receiving substantial pay rises when the 15-month industrial dispute with the Government was won.

"A lot of underhand tactics and scaremongering are going on to ensure the qualification goes ahead next year even when many professionals think it's not a good idea," Mr Hasler said.

At one of the debates Concerned Teachers spokesman Peter Calvert called the issue of the implementation of Level 2 the most divisive thing to happen in schools since bulk-funding.