Francesca Rudkin: If NCEA changes keep more kids in the system, maybe it's worth it

Yesterday, Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti announced changes to NCEA and university entrance (UE) for 2022, saying the Government recognises the disruptions COVID-19 has caused high school students.

The big issue, according to principals from across the country who contacted the Government asking for assistance, is the significant absences of students and teachers, as a result of COVID-19 and it’s required isolation period, and the impact that has had on teaching, learning and assessment in the first two terms.

So the changes are; students will be able to receive Learning Recognition Credits, with one Learning Recognition Credit awarded for every five credits earned through assessment. Students working towards NCEA Level 1 will be able to receive up to 10 additional credits, while those at Levels 2 or 3 will be eligible for up to 8 additional credits.

To receive a Certificate Endorsement, students will need to earn 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, instead of the usual 50.

The University Entrance requirement to achieve at least 14 credits in each of 3 approved subjects has also been adjusted, to 14 credits in each of 2 approved subjects and 12 credits in a third approved subject.

My son is in his first year of NCEA, and Covid has been a bit of a pain to be honest. He got Covid at the end of the first term when a lot of internal assessments and tests were being done.

The disruption of not being able to sit tests when he was pumped and ready for them, and complete assignments when unwell, did have an impact on his performance and results, and we felt for him. Not that his results were terrible.

But our attitude is; that’s life. You have to deal with the ups and downs and, and whatever is thrown at you, and just do your best. He’s lucky that there’s still time and opportunities to lift his grades.

At no point did we consider he should be compensated for being sick, and I am sure a lot of parents feel that way.

However, if you talk to those in schools, to teachers, principals, counsellors and psychologists, you might get another picture on the impact Covid has had.

According to staff and students I have spoken to, student attendance has been worse this year for some schools compared to the last two years. Sickness and isolation rules has kept teens and teachers out of schools for long periods of time. When schools offered online learning, this wasn’t such an issue, but many schools don’t have the capacity anymore to teach both online and in person anymore.

And then there is the mental health aspect of all this. Knowing learning recognition credits are available might help those who are anxious Covid complications might impact their work towards getting into University.

Not all teenagers will need to use learning recognition credits. Those who are driven to do well will continue to strive to do well regardless of what the credit and university requirement is.

This is a policy designed to encourage those who are struggling to keep at it during challenging times. We want as many teenagers as possible to have options when it comes to education, so if this is what it takes to keep them in the system, then maybe it’s worth it.

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