If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
senior secondary school – the last three years at secondary school
literacy – the ability to read and write
numeracy – the ability to count and do simple maths
tertiary – third level of education, after primary and secondary schools. Tertiary education is at a university or polytechnic
‘game a system’ – to use the rules of a system to get what you want in an unfair but legal way
barista – someone who prepares coffee in a café. The school subject teaches students how to prepare coffee
compulsory – if something is compulsory, you must do it because of a law or rule
alongside – next to
curriculum – the subjects that are taught in schools
civics – a school subject dealing with the rights and duties of citizens and the way government works
journalism – the job of writing news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
outdoor education – a subject where students learn skills in specific outdoor activities and learn about the safe and sensible enjoyment of outdoor environments
principal, headmaster – the head teacher, the person in charge of a school
criticise – to say that you think something is bad, or to say what you do not like or think is wrong about something
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What are the two new senior secondary school qualifications called?
- When will they replace the current NCEA?
- How many subjects will students in Years 12 and 13 study?
- How many subjects will they need to pass?
- What will Year 11 students need to pass?
- Why did the Government decide on these changes?
- From 2028, which three subjects will be compulsory at Year 11?
- What new subjects does the speaker mention? List at least two.
- True or false: All principals and teachers are happy about this change.
- Why has the PPTA union criticised the changes?
News story
On 16 May, the Government confirmed the details for the new senior secondary school qualifications: the New Zealand Certificate of Education at Year 12 and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education at Year 13. These Certificates will replace the current National Certificate of Educational Achievement, called NCEA, from 2028.
For the new certificates, students in Years 12 and 13 will study at least five subjects each year. They will need to pass a minimum of three subjects to achieve each certificate. There will be a six-point grading scale from A+ to E for every subject. Students will have internal assessments and an examination for every subject. At Year 11, students will need to pass a new literacy and numeracy Foundational Award. Students who are currently in Year 9 will be the first to go through the new system.
The Education Minister, Erica Stanford, said that the Government decided on these changes because the grading system in NCEA has been confusing for parents, employers, tertiary providers, and students. That grading system has Excellence, Merit, and Achieved. She also said that it has been too easy for students to ‘game the education system’, by getting credits in different subjects without building deep knowledge in them. She also gave an example of students getting credits for short barista courses if they didn’t have enough credits from other subjects. Under the new Certificates, she said students “can be confident they’re getting a world-leading education system”.
There are some changes for subjects as well. From 2028, Science will become a compulsory subject alongside English and Maths at Year 11. The Education Minister said that “Science gives young people important foundational knowledge in today’s modern world”. In addition, some new subjects have been confirmed for the secondary curriculum. These include ‘Civics, Politics and Philosophy’, ‘Journalism, Media and Communications’ and ‘Advanced Mathematics’. There are also some industry-led subjects being developed, such as ‘Building and Construction’, ‘Outdoor Education’, and ‘Primary Industries’.
Some principals and teachers are happy about this change. For example, the headmaster of Auckland Grammar said the new qualification will be good because it places a stronger emphasis on independent assessment and external examinations. He said this will lead to more consistent standards across the country. However, other teachers are disappointed. The President of the New Zealand Association for the Teaching of English said that its teachers wanted NCEA strengthened, not replaced. She said that the flexibility in NCEA was helpful in meeting students’ individual needs. She also said that the issue of students ‘gaming the system’ happened only occasionally, so the whole system did not need to change. The PPTA union, which represents secondary teachers, has also criticised the changes. Its president said the new system is too rigid and will mean more students leave school without qualifications. The Green Party and the Labour Party also oppose the changes. In addition, some students said that a barista course at high school is not about getting easy credits but helps them find work while studying.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. What are the two new senior secondary school qualifications called?
The New Zealand Certificate of Education at Year 12 and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education at Year 13
b. When will they replace the current NCEA?
2028
c. How many subjects will students in Years 12 and 13 study each year?
At least five subjects
d. How many subjects will they need to pass?
A minimum of three subjects
e. What will Year 11 students need to pass?
A new literacy and numeracy Foundational Award
f. Why did the Government decide on these changes?
Because the grading system in NCEA has been confusing for parents, employers, tertiary providers, and students; because it has been too easy for students to ‘game the education system’, by getting credits in different subjects without building deep knowledge in them
g. From 2028, which three subjects will be compulsory at Year 11?
Science, English, and Maths
h. What new subjects does the speaker mention? List at least two.
‘Civics, Politics and Philosophy’; ‘Journalism, Media and Communications’; ‘Advanced Mathematics’; ‘Building and Construction’; ‘Outdoor Education’; ‘Primary Industries’
i. True or false: All principals and teachers are happy about this change. False
j. Why has the PPTA union criticised the changes?
Its president said the new system is too rigid and will mean more students leave school without qualifications.