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NZ Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
NCEA as we know it should be abolished – Tim O'Connor
What's the problem? The reported strength of NCEA, that is, its flexibility, has found schools 'game' the system, thereby helping students to accumulate credits to earn the qualification. Depth of learning or the retention of knowledge has too readily become secondary to quality teaching and the learning process. As NCEA was being introduced in 2002, our school's critique of the new framework said it would: Undermine the coherence of individual subjects and the importance of integrating understanding Increase teacher workloads due to the volume of internal assessment. Remove a consistent national standard and benchmark Complicate reporting to students and parents Create uncertainty in university entrance qualifications Over 20 years later, the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) have been reporting on the state of NCEA. They highlight major concerns that include 'No core learning is required to achieve subjects within the qualification' and 'The flexibility of the qualification is being used to prioritise credit accumulation over meaningful learning and clear educational or vocational pathways'. Such concerns need to be listened to. What we need and need now is the Minister of Education to take the boldest of steps. NCEA, as we know it, should be abolished. Education Minister Erica Stanford is preparing to make announcements about NCEA. Photo / Alyse Wright What we need is a simplified, rigorous but fair national qualification. Get the design right and we will have a new system that we can be proud of. The core foundational knowledge our children need to learn and the science of learning point the direction we need to take quite clearly. Our national curriculum and qualification system need to reflect this. Introducing a new national qualification will provide every student across the country, no matter where they live, with an equal opportunity to learn content-rich subjects that will provide them with equal opportunities to realise their potential in the world. What's the fix? The first step is the introduction of an internationally benchmarked curriculum. This step is under way with the draft English and mathematics curricula in place for consultation. Our national qualification should then assess our national curriculum in each approved subject area. This will make good sense to parents; however, since the introduction of NCEA, it has not been common sense, as the content has been driven by assessment criteria. This must change. Ideally, the assessment system will include a number of critical elements in order for the qualification to gain credibility and to be respected by professionals nationally and internationally and parents of future generations of students. The content being assessed must be aligned with the national curriculum. This needs to be provided to schools years in advance, so schools and teachers have time to prepare and so that students are not disadvantaged by the changes. Auckland Grammar headmaster Tim O'Connor. Photo / Jason Oxenham The primary mode of assessment should be examinations, as they are an objective and independent form of assessment. Such a system will allow students from across all regions in our country to have faith that they have earned a nationally benchmarked qualification. These new qualifications should include some internal assessment, because not all types of content are best assessed under exam conditions. But all assessments must be conducted under controlled conditions and they should all be marked by the NZQA. Under this new system, teachers would not mark students' work in their schools. Internal assessment marks would not be made available to students until they receive their external results, thereby removing the damaging practice of 'credit counting', which has become such a problem in the current system. This will also encourage student attendance and continued learning throughout the entire academic year. Results should be reported as percentages, which everyone understands, and which enable comparisons, so that anyone can draw meaningful inferences about student performance. Norm-referencing the assessment system would ensure marks and results across years could be broadly compared, so that results are more meaningful to parents, employers and universities. Our national qualifications should be restricted to the final two years of students' secondary schooling – Years 12 (the old Form 6) and Year 13 (Form 7). The qualification, University Entrance, should be in students' final year, and the quality of these assessments should be endorsed by our universities. As a result of NCEA's flexibility, hundreds of students arrive at our universities annually, only to find they have not met entry qualifications and have to complete foundation programmes. The recently introduced NCEA corequisites are causing more problems than they are solving at present. They will not be required if new mathematics and English assessments are robust: they will show how literate and numerate students are, and students' entire qualifications won't depend on three assessments. Introducing a rigorous national qualification that parents, students and teachers can understand and be proud of will provide generations of students with equal opportunities to realise their potential in the world.
NZ Herald
20-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Scott Robertson's vision: All Blacks blend speed with skill for success
There has to be more to his vision, because one undeniable finding to come out of the French series is that his All Blacks are most effective when they play at a tempo that is in equilibrium with their skillset execution and game understanding. All Blacks captain Scott Robertson is seeking speed and accuracy from his side. Photo / Alyse Wright When they tried to move the point of attack at breakneck speed and generate a kind of speed-induced chaos, they just got chaos, and their attacking shape disintegrated a few times, most notably in the second test in Wellington when they opted to quickly tap penalties to keep the French running. Robertson may need to run a split narrative where he continues to externally promote his desire to see a fast game to encourage officials to stamp out the inevitable time-wasting that is part and parcel of the international game, but tone that down internally to ensure the focus is more heavily on combining speed with accuracy. There is a sweet spot somewhere – a magical overlap in the Venn diagram - where the All Blacks can use the sharpness of their pass and catch, their dynamic ball-carrying, instinctive ability to exploit space and raw athleticism all at a speed and intensity that forces the power teams such as South Africa to go into oxygen debt. There's a sense that this brand of aerobic, innovative, smart and destructive rugby is not far from breaking out, primarily because the past three weeks have delivered a strong body of evidence to believe that the All Blacks now have a depth of forwards who are purpose-built for the confrontational world of international rugby where collision and set piece are the only real, hard currencies. Unlike last year, when the All Blacks were only able to hold their own for 55 minutes against South Africa before everything was blown up by the arrival of the 'Bomb Squad', now they seemingly have the depth and quality in their tight five to go the full 80 minutes. Fabian Holland has been the find of the season so far and Tupou Vaa'i's encouraging forays at blindside, combined with the solid work of Patrick Tuipulotu, has given the All Blacks the potential to include all three of them, and captain Scott Barrett, in their preferred match-day 23 and fight size with size, but with a quartet that are frighteningly mobile and comfortable with the ball. Tamaiti Williams is still to return from injury and when he and Tyrel Lomax are fit, the All Blacks will be able to inject Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell off the bench and potentially continue the new trend of winning scrum penalties in the final quarter. Weaponising their scrum in the final quarter has been the Springboks' trump card in recent seasons, but it's a trick the All Blacks may now also be able to nullify. The ease with which Kirifi Du'Plessis has graduated to the test arena and the knowledge that Wallace Sititi is on track to return for the Rugby Championship has deepened the talent pool at loose forward – and potentially the only disappointment on that front was the inability to take a look at the injured Chiefs prospect Simon Parker, who may be the long-term preference ahead of Samipeni Finau. But maybe the bigger game-changer has been the arrival of Bryn Evans as a specialist lineout coach. The former Hurricanes and London Irish lock has not only improved the accuracy and quality of the lineout, his arrival paved the way for assistant coach Jason Ryan to focus more heavily on the scrum. It felt that Ryan was perhaps being stretched too thin at times last year, and having had his brief tightened has resulted in an increase in the scrummaging horsepower and improved maul defence. What equally became clear, however, during the French series is that the All Blacks don't have the same depth in their backs, and that they are heavily reliant now on ensuring Cam Roigard, Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan all stay fit. Halfback Cam Roigard is key to Scott Robertson's plans for the All Blacks. Photo / SmartFrame These four are critical to the fortunes of the All Blacks, because Roigard brings an attacking dimension none of his halfback peers can match, Beauden Barrett is head and shoulders the best game manager in the country, Jordie Barrett has the unmatched ability to be both battering room and tactical general, and Jordan is the best back-field operator. It's not clear yet who the two best wings are and whether Billy Proctor is the right choice to persevere with at centre – although he probably is – and there is a defined sense that the All Blacks will continue to be in the market for more outside back options, be it getting Caleb Clarke back into top form, recalling the just-returned-from-France Leicester Fainga'anuku or elevating one from a promising cluster that includes Leroy Carter, Chay Fihaki or Caleb Tangitau. In time, it is likely that speed will become the All Blacks' great differentiator. That they will learn the art of being able to attack accurately at a tempo that breaks defences. But for the next six tests, their ambition needs to be tempered by the realisation that they don't yet have the intuitive understanding of their attack patterns, and the instinctive skillset execution that comes with familiarity, to be playing an all-out pass and run game. Gregor Paul is one of New Zealand's most respected rugby writers and columnists. He has won multiple awards for journalism and written several books about sport.
NZ Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Josh Emett and the eclair that became an icon
It's been an Onslow signature menu item since day one. Now, Josh Emett's famous crayfish eclair has clawed its way into the Iconic Auckland Eats Top 100 list. Video / Alyse Wright
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Inside the Rovers: The Centurion
'You've crossed him to the other side. Thank you so much.' Video / Beyond the Beat The electronics shop fought back against the group by chucking items at them from behind the counter. Video / Supplied Acclaimed filmmaker Gaylene Preston and neighbours Ralph Highnam and Dave Woods share their objections to the plans. Video / Ethan Manera Hamas and Israel in new round of negotiations as Israeli bombardments continue, and Andrew Little launches his Wellington mayoral campaign. Video / NZ Herald, AFP Pawanjit Singh Ghatora, who had his leg amputated after a horrific accident in February, finished the last lap of his 21km run alongside friends and family in Te Atatū. A 28-year-old man was arrested and is due to appear in court tomorrow. Video / Supplied Premium A Herald investigation has found allegations of unsafe practices against a turtle tour operator. Video / Alyse Wright 10 kiwi were transferred from neighbouring Pōnui Island to Te Matuku Peninsula at the eastern end of Te Motu-ārai-roa/Waiheke Island. Video / NZ Herald Victim claims inconsistencies in police investigation and fears for her life. Video / Michael Craig The whale can be seen swimming up to the boat before blowing water at the camera. Video / Aaron Farrell Members of the public in the area are advised to follow instructions from police officers. NZ Herald football reporter Michael Burgess reports from Melbourne to look ahead to the first leg of the A-League semi-final between Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory. Russia and Ukraine come to an agreement, Police continue to search for a man following an incident in Papakura yesterday. Wild weather is on the way. Video / NZ Herald Starting in July 2021 to December 2024, see how the builder worked on this Kelburn site of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Video / Te Herenga Waka America's Cup-winning helmsman Peter Burling discusses his success with and exit from Team New Zealand, and what's next. Video / Alyse Wright
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Sentencing for City Garden Lodge backpackers arsonist
Acclaimed filmmaker Gaylene Preston and neighbours Ralph Highnam and Dave Woods share their objections to the plans. Video / Ethan Manera Hamas and Israel in new round of negotiations as Israeli bombardments continue, and Andrew Little launches his Wellington mayoral campaign. Video / NZ Herald, AFP Pawanjit Singh Ghatora, who had his leg amputated after a horrific accident in February, finished the last lap of his 21km run alongside friends and family in Te Atatū. A 28-year-old man was arrested and is due to appear in court tomorrow. Video / Supplied Premium A Herald investigation has found allegations of unsafe practices against a turtle tour operator. Video / Alyse Wright 10 kiwi were transferred from neighbouring Pōnui Island to Te Matuku Peninsula at the eastern end of Te Motu-ārai-roa/Waiheke Island. Video / NZ Herald Victim claims inconsistencies in police investigation and fears for her life. Video / Michael Craig Members of the public in the area are advised to follow instructions from police officers. NZ Herald football reporter Michael Burgess reports from Melbourne to look ahead to the first leg of the A-League semi-final between Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory. Russia and Ukraine come to an agreement, Police continue to search for a man following an incident in Papakura yesterday. Wild weather is on the way. Video / NZ Herald Starting in July 2021 to December 2024, see how the builder worked on this Kelburn site of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Video / Te Herenga Waka America's Cup-winning helmsman Peter Burling discusses his success with and exit from Team New Zealand, and what's next. Video / Alyse Wright Social Investment Agency boss Andy Coster has responsibility for a new $190 million fund to tackle social problems. Video / NZ Herald How To Get Rid Of Acne For Good, According To An Expert Police were called to Settlement Road outside Papakura Intermediate School, where a man was found with serious injuries. Video / Dean Purcell
