Press Release: AEC Petition - Save NCEA!
Aotearoa Educators Collective: Petition to Save NCEA - Strengthen, Don’t Replace it!
For Immediate Release
Monday 8 September 2025
Aotearoa Educators Collective: Petition to Save NCEA - Strengthen, Don’t Replace it!
The Aotearoa Educators Collective (AEC) is today launching a national petition calling on the Government to stop the proposal to replace NCEA and instead commit to strengthening and future-proofing Aotearoa’s national qualification.
“NCEA is not perfect but it has proven strengths, flexibility, and the ability to serve all learners across diverse pathways, whether academic, vocational, or community-based,” says the AEC. “Instead of scrapping it, we call on the Government to work alongside educators, students, whānau, and industry to strengthen NCEA through curriculum alignment, a standards review, and genuine co-design.”
Key Concerns if NCEA is Replaced:
Narrowing of subject choices and the limiting of pathways for students not on a university track.
Disadvantaging Māori, Pasifika, neurodivergent learners, migrants, second-language learners, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds - an outcome already flagged in Cabinet papers.
Removing Level One NCEA for all students, leaving some without a meaningful formal qualification.
Reverting to outdated models of letter grades, percentages, and bell curves – undermining equity and student wellbeing.
Increased emphasis on external assessments and exams at the expense of flexible assessment, curriculum breadth, and student-centred learning.
A Call for Inclusive, Future-Focused Assessment
The AEC emphasises that Aotearoa needs an inclusive, future-focused qualification system that values all learners. NCEA, when strengthened, already provides the framework for such a system.
“We urge the Government to halt the replacement process, protect the breadth of the New Zealand Curriculum, and engage in authentic, sector-wide consultation,” the AEC states.
Petition and Consultation
The petition will be formally delivered to the House of Representatives, addressed to the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, ensuring it is tabled in Parliament and officially acknowledged.
📢 AEC calls on all students, teachers, leaders, parents, and NCEA graduates to sign the petition and add their voice to protect NCEA.
👉 Official Government consultation closes 15 September 2025: https://www.education.govt.nz/consultation-ncea
References and Further Reading
NCEA Open Letter from Principals - updated September 2025.pdf
Cabinet Paper - Public consultation on proposal to replace NCEA.pdf
The Recolonisation of the Aotearoa New Zealand Curriculum in 2025 Final-.pdf
Futuremakers: Why Narrowing New Zealand’s Curriculum Misses the Mark – futuremakers.nz
Engaging Learning Voices: “Gaming the NCEA System” or Beating the Odds? – engaginglearningvoices.com
Contact:
Aotearoa Educators Collective www.aec.org.nz
Email: save.ncea@aec.org.nz