The NCEA system is in for a major change, with the government announcing plans to scrap all three levels and bring in an entirely new certificate system for high school students.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford confirmed the proposed overhaul today, saying the current system “is not consistent” and needs a full refresh because the current can be “hard to navigate”.
Under the new plan, Level 1 will be replaced by a foundation literacy and numeracy test, while Levels 2 and 3 will be swapped out for the New Zealand Certificate of Education for Year 12 students and the Advanced Certificate in Year 13.
“This means that students who leave before the end of Year 12 may still leave with an Award,” Luxon said.
If the changes go ahead, students will be required to take five subjects and pass at least four to earn each qualification.
Ministry of Education
“New Zealand’s future depends on our young people having the skills to succeed in the modern global economy. We’re backing Kiwi kids with a new internationally benchmarked national qualification designed to do exactly that,” the PM added.
The marking system is said to be clearer for parents, too. With scores out of 100 and grades marked from A to E, the government claims it will make it easier to understand how their teens are tracking.
There's also a proposed national curriculum for Years 9 to 13, aiming to bring more clarity around what students should be learning and when.
Education Minister Erica Stanford says it’s all about “making sure our national qualification opens doors for every young person, whether they’re heading to uni, picking up a trade, or jumping straight into the workforce.”
If approved, the new system will start rolling out next year, with the bigger NCEA changes beginning in 2028 for Year 11 and following that group of students through 2029 for Year 12 and 2030 for Year 13.
