NCEA students raise concerns over exam questions

The National Certificate of Educational Achievement or NCEA external exams started over the weekend on Sunday with the Biology level 1. 

Seventy six students are sitting NCEA across the three levels this year. 36 students for level 1, 23 students for level 2 and 17 for level 3.  

The exams range from anywhere from 1 paper to more than 10 papers.  The last exam will be on the 1st December with Level 1 Social Studies.

The Biology exam for level 1 was held at the USP lecture room last Sunday. There were eight students who took the students and some spoke about their surprise to find the third part of the exam was on a subject area that they had not studied during the year. 

BCN news contacted the Principal of Niue HIgh School yesterday who said that he had spoken to the Science Head of Department and the teacher for Biology level 1 both said that the subject areas that came up in the exam were all covered in the course teachings. 

This statement contradicts the students concerns but the school has not responded whether the students allegations will be further investigated.

Meanwhile, locals will be able to get an update on the NCEA review this week as New Zealand’s Ministry of Education officials  Jason Kora and Simon Sanders are holding meetings this week.

The meetings are for feedback on the Implementation Plan of the Outcomes of the NCEA Review with all stakeholders. 

Education’s Director Birtha Togahai states since Niue High School commenced the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) qualification in 2002, this is the first time that it has been reviewed and the community will hear from Kora and Sanders on the implementation framework of the Review Outcomes.