New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa

Kua eke! NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams for 2024 have now ended, with around 144,500 students across New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue having been entered over the last four weeks. Improvements made to our digital assessment platform and processes over the last year enabled students to complete more than 150,000 exams digitally. This is a new record, and more than double the number of students who completed a digital exam last year. NCEA results for 2024 will be released online on 15 January 2025 and New Zealand Scholarship results will be released on 11 February 2025.  Open the link to see our full media release: https://lnkd.in/g4pT5V86

The last few years have seen significant changes in the tertiary education environment – new education products, technologies, changes in the number and structure of tertiary education organisations, and shifting expectations from learners, employers and communities. We are consulting on a replacement for the evaluative quality assurance framework (EQAF) used to regulate tertiary education organisations (excluding universities). The proposed changes aim to ensure learner, employer, and community interests are protected, add value to providers and the system as a whole, and minimise compliance for high-performing providers. As the first step, we are consulting on proposals for the high-level design of an integrated quality assurance framework (iQAF ) that includes:   • the quality assurance cornerstones that set out roles and responsibilities • the enablers which underpin a supportive and responsive regulatory environment that encourages compliance and continuous improvement • the levers and related regulatory activities for NZQA to effect change where this is needed. We’re asking for feedback to help us fine-tune the framework and once these components are finalised, we will develop quality assurance rules, tools, processes and fees. Find out more and provide feedback here: https://lnkd.in/gCFTazG4

The Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford, has appointed David Ferguson as a member of the NZQA Board and reappointed Jeremy Baker. David is the Headmaster of Westlake Boys’ High School and a member of the Minister’s NCEA Professional Advisory Group. He has held senior leadership roles at Westlake Boys High School for over 20 years, the last 15 as Headmaster. Jeremy is the Chief Executive of Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council, and has been an NZQA Board member since 2021. Lyn Provost and Pania Gray have both reached the end of their terms on the Board, with Lyn having served on the Board since 2018 and Pania since 2021. Read more about our Board members: https://lnkd.in/gGSxw6WQ

NZQA Deputy Chief Executive Assessment, Jann Marshall extends her best wishes to all students ahead of NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams, which start tomorrow morning. “I encourage all students to give it your best effort. These exams are the last step before you can enjoy a well-deserved summer break,” says Jann Marshall. “I congratulate students for their hard work and dedication through the year and encourage them to seek support if they feel overwhelmed by the pressure. While it’s important to stay focused on your studies, remember to take breaks for exercise, rest, and relaxation,” Jann Marshall adds. Exams end on the morning of Friday 29 November 2024, with around 144,500 students participating in 121 NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exam sessions. “More than 97,000 students are entered to sit some NCEA or NZ Scholarship exams online,” Jann Marshall says. Information for students, including resources to help manage exam pressure, can be found at www.nzqa.govt.nz/exams

“Vital to the future of education in the Pacific” is Seci Waqabaca, SPC Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP) Deputy Director’s description of a robust Pacific qualifications framework.  This week, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa hosted the Pacific Qualifications Advisory Board meeting, bringing together Pacific leaders in qualifications and quality assurance together to discuss the future of the Pacific Qualifications Framework https://lnkd.in/dbjiFpbE (PQF). The outcomes of this week will be used to strengthen the PQF so it can be used to support education quality and recognition of Pacific qualifications. This work is part of the project, through which NZQA is partnering with the Pacific Community (SPC) and nine Pacific countries that are party to the PACER Plus trade agreement to strengthen qualification and quality assurance systems in the Pacific region.   Mr Waqabaca also remarked at the end of the meeting that through this work we are ‘…sowing the seeds of progress but the measure of our success will be in how we nurture what we have begun, with care, attention, and finding ways of developing flexible and sustainable solutions’. Bill Moran Lyn Provost Jeremy Baker Daisy Trang Andree Atkinson Lili Tuioti Wiremu Doherty Siosaia Mataele David Ferguson Kalo Afeaki Alison Dittmer Croad Gavin Middleton Grant Klinkum Ministry of Education Maria Kerslake Eve McMahon Lesbeth Jimmy Floria Detabene Tematang Iaoniman Denise Lowe-Carlus seci waqabaca Utufaasisili Rosemary Mose #qualifications #Pacific

NZQA has begun consulting on proposed changes to the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) and its Rules. “The NZQCF is at the heart of New Zealand’s education system, providing information about quality assured qualifications and credentials to learners, employers and international organisations,” says Eve McMahon, NZQA Deputy Chief Executive, Quality Assurance. “The proposed changes provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on amendments indicated in previous consultations, along with a new diagrammatic representation of the framework which gives greater visibility to vocational skills and knowledge,” Eve McMahon says. “Proposals also include further embedding the transferable skills of critical thinking, collaboration and communication, and showing quality assured micro-credentials on the Framework.” “Proposed changes to NZQA’s Rules would better align the Rules with the NZQCF and support the ongoing quality and credibility of qualifications and micro-credentials listed on the NZQCF.” “We also propose some changes to the English language requirements for international students to clarify the requirement for in-person testing, expand the range of evidence of English language that can be accepted and require providers to verify test results.” Information about the proposals and how to provide feedback is available at https://lnkd.in/gXzr-AyY Consultation is open until 11.59pm Sunday 17 November.

Consultation on proposed changes to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. Consultation on proposed changes to the VET system closes on 12 September 2024. In 2023 the Government committed to disestablish Te Pūkenga and restore regional decision-making for vocational education and training. This consultation is the key opportunity for you have your say on how vocational education and training is delivered in New Zealand. To see  the proposals that are being consulted on and to make a submission please go to https://lnkd.in/grC677u5

E rere, e te kawau nui, ki tō taunga ki ngā rangi, ā, Mahue iho mai a roimata, a tangi auē ki a mātou nei. E te kāhu tātara, Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, Moe, moe, moe mai rā ki te morimoritanga o tō tūpuna kuia Mahinaarangi. Ko āu mahi mō te iwi Māori, mō te kōkiritanga tahitanga, inarā mō ngā tamariki mokopuna o Aotearoa, nāwhai anō ka kīia rā koe ko te kīngi o te kotahitanga. Nō reira rā, okioki atu e, okioki atu e. Ki Te Makau Ariki Te Atawhai me ō tamariki mokopuna, e tukuna atu ana te aroha nui ki a koutou i tēnei wā whakapōuri. Nō mātou nei o Te Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa me te aroha. --- Take flight, great cormorant, to your resting place in the heavens, and Leave behind tears and mourning with us here. Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, Take your rest in the embrace of your ancestress Mahinaarangi. Your advocacy for Māori and the cooperative advancement especially for the children of Aotearoa New Zealand, it is no wonder why you are called the king of unity. To the king’s consort, Te Makau Ariki Te Atawhai and your children and grandchildren, we offer our deepest condolences to you in this time of grieving. From the NZQA Board, Ngā Kaitūhono, Executive Team and all our kaimahi.

Tokona Te Raki - a Māori future makers collective - have released an annual report sharing their progress on the Kōkirihia project to improve education outcomes by removing streaming.   NZQA is one of the 20 organisations working with Tokona Te Raki as part of the Kōkirihia project.   Read more about the Kōkirihia project and the work of Tokona Te Raki in the Kōkirihia annual report on their website here: https://lnkd.in/gi8nQ_3c

We've just published a case study about St Peter's college - a boys’ secondary school in central Auckland, that is supporting staff and students to achieve academic excellence in New Zealand Scholarship examinations. Read more about how the school reimagined the Scholarship programme, focussed on building relational trust, enhanced staff professional capabilities, and fostered student enthusiasm from the junior years, to improve its New Zealand Scholarship exam success: https://lnkd.in/dzXMTTJy