PPTA welcomes new "reassessment" rules

The Post-Primary Teachers' Association welcomes new rules and procedures for further assessment opportunities and says they will reduce the workload for teachers.

New rules and procedures were announced by NZQA in July after a two-month consultation period. One of the key rules is to allow a maximum of one reassessment chance for internally assessed NCEA standards from 2010. This means students will have a maximum of two assessment opportunities per standard, per year. Resubmission rules have also been clarified.

PPTA President, Kate Gainsford, says "The absence of any national limit on the number of further assessment opportunities or clear rules around re-submission had resulted in a workload problem for teachers which these rules and procedures will help to address. They will also provide clarity and certainty, and deliver fairness across schools."

A total of 125 responses from 91 schools were received on the draft guidelines, representing the views of around 2000 teachers, with 70 per cent support for limiting reassessment to one opportunity.

A key change has been to change the status of the proposed guidelines to NZQA Assessment & Examination Rules and Procedures . Schools have been asked to begin implementation of these into their school- wide policies and procedures. From 2010, NZQA will report on the implementation of these rules and procedures as part of its Managing National Assessment system reviews and as required.

For more information see SecQual circular S2009/022.