Unit Standard Changes
Starting in 2011 and becoming mandatory in 2012 most of the easier Unit Standards have been abolished for conventional school subjects. The exception is for ITO's which are taught in schools. This is in response to the ongoing criticism that it was patently unfair to give the same credit to a student who had passed all or mostly Unit Standards (set at curriculum level 3-4) compared to a student who had passed all or mostly Achievement Standards which are now set at curriculum level 6. Recognising that many schools have students who could not pass the more difficult curriculum level 6 Achievement Standards, a narrow range of Unit standards have been allotted for the less able learner so they can have a formal academic goal. Students are no longer allowed to do both Achievement standards and Unit standards in the same subject to avoid double dipping. This is likely to lead to a very different pattern of NCEA results for lower decile schools where traditionally students have mainly achieved their NCEA by taking Unit standards.
Normally most schools have most year 11 students undertaking level 1 NCEA. A recent trend has started where schools only allow year 11 students to sit NCEA Level 1 if they have a very good chance of passing i.e. getting the certificate. This has always been allowed under NCEA but schools have only recently realised that using this method will result in a huge improvement in their NCEA level 1 statistics because most students doing NCEA Level 1 are now Year 12 students. This means that the bald statistics that the media commonly use suddenly appear very good. Schools jump from pass rates of 40-46% to 65-75%. Students start a year later on NCEA but start with a culture of success. However the negative side is that students opting into the "late start" can only obtain level 3 at secondary school if they return for an additional year as an adult student. Some secondary schools are scheduling classes for year 14 students and composite Kuras for up to year 15 students
Read more about this topic: National Certificate Of Educational Achievement
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