The Government has announced a proposal to replace the NCEA qualification system with a new structure aimed at better preparing students for work, training, or further study.

Under the proposed changes, NCEA Level 1 would be removed.

Year 11 students would instead sit a literacy and numeracy foundation test and be required to take English and Maths.

From Year 12, two new qualifications would replace NCEA Levels 2 and 3:

• The New Zealand Certificate of Education (Year 12)
• The New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (Year 13)

Each would require students to take five subjects and pass at least four, with results graded clearly from A to E.

The new system would also introduce a nationally consistent curriculum for Years 9–13, and stronger vocational pathways designed in partnership with industry.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the current NCEA system is inconsistent and doesn’t always meet the needs of students or employers.

Education Minister Erica Stanford added that the changes are about lifting standards and giving parents clearer information.

For families on the Hibiscus Coast, this means their teens could soon be learning under a more structured, internationally benchmarked system.

The Government says it wants every student, whether aiming for trades, uni, or direct employment, to have the skills to thrive.

These changes are part of a broader education reform already underway, including daily lessons in reading, writing, and maths, phone bans in class, and updated curricula in English and maths.

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