Government proposes replacing NCEA with new national qualifications

Monday 4 August 2025 · 8 outlets · 11 reports · updated Mon 4 Aug 2025, 6:01pm

In this story Christopher Luxon, Erica Stanford

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford have announced a proposal to replace NCEA with new qualifications. The plan includes removing NCEA Level 1 and reintroducing A to E grade scales. The changes would be phased in from next year and will be released for public feedback.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldMon 4 Aug 2025, 5:00am

   NCEA changes announcement: Erica Stanford, Christopher Luxon to reveal proposal for secondary school qualification (opens in new tab)

   • Live updates: Government to abolish NCEA in radical shake-up of main secondary school qualification (opens in new tab) Mon 4 Aug 2025, 8:52am
2. The Press via The PostMon 4 Aug 2025, 8:32am

   NCEA to be replaced with new qualifications (opens in new tab)

   • Teachers, principals cautiously optimistic about NCEA change (opens in new tab) Mon 4 Aug 2025, 10:31am
3. StuffMon 4 Aug 2025, 8:39am

   Goodbye NCEA, hello grades A to E: Return to traditional marking in new school qualifications regime (opens in new tab)

   • NCEA is being scrapped and you have thoughts: ‘A to E is better’ ... ‘sad for kids who don’t do well in exams’ ... ‘19th century’ (opens in new tab) Mon 4 Aug 2025, 12:56pm
   • ‘I do feel negated’: Students react to the scrapping of NCEA (opens in new tab) Mon 4 Aug 2025, 6:01pm
4. 1NewsMon 4 Aug 2025, 8:40am

   Government proposes axing NCEA, introducing new qualifications (opens in new tab)

   • NCEA changes: What you need to know (opens in new tab) Mon 4 Aug 2025, 9:47am
5. RNZMon 4 Aug 2025, 9:09am

   Watch: Government proposes replacing NCEA school system (opens in new tab)

6. Otago Daily TimesMon 4 Aug 2025, 2:32pm

   NCEA overhaul sparks optimism and concern (opens in new tab)

   Also on RNZ (opens in new tab)