Educators largely favor tweaking NCEA over a full replacement

The Ministry of Education reviewed 8,292 submissions on the future of New Zealand's National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Four-fifths of educators and industry respondents agreed the qualification requires improvement, yet many highlighted its strengths and preferred refinements over replacement. About 54% of teachers said NCEA does not consistently measure knowledge, and a comparable share of industry participants found its value hard to interpret.

Nonetheless, roughly half of educators, industry and whānau respondents supported the government's phased rollout of new certificates from 2028 to 2030. Critics warned that replacing NCEA could reduce flexibility and harm vulnerable learners, while supporters praised its internal assessment and adaptability for diverse student needs.