About the consultation
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On 30 March to 26 May 2017, NZQA consulted with stakeholders and the public on the alignment of learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA) with the University Entrance approved subjects list.
Following the analysis of sector feedback, changes have been made to the list of approved subjects for University Entrance.
Six unique subjects have been added:
- Hauora
- Ngā Toi
- Ngā Mahi a te Rēhia
- Ngā Toi Ataata
- Ngā Toi Puoro
- Tikanga ā-Iwi.
Comparable subjects have been brought together and renamed:
- Technology/Hangarau
- Mathematics/Pāngarau
- Science/Pūtaiao.
Relevant Level 3 TMoA achievement standards have been added to 17 existing approved subjects.
All Māori-medium students will be able to have their achievement of TMoA-derived subjects and standards contribute to meeting the three approved subjects requirement for University Entrance.
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Summary of the feedback
NZQA received 50 responses including 32 organisational responses.
The university sector is broadly supportive of the proposal. One university noted that the new TMoA standards are internally assessed and some experience of external assessment helps students succeed in STEM programmes. Another university suggested that NZQA and the Ministry of Education provide some information to academics on the new subjects. The responses are set out below (Not all respondents answered every question):
Responses to the proposal to add six new subjects to the list of approved subjects
Almost all respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that all the six new TMoA subjects should be added to the list of approved subjects.
Respondents commented that the proposal enabled parity of esteem for these subjects and for the two curricula to be seen side by side with equal status.
Other comments included that the proposal validated Mātauranga Māori as a valuable pathway into university; that it provides the opportunity for their students to aspire to university through subjects that they enjoy; and that it shows that Māori-medium subjects are valid learning areas.
Adding pūtaiao achievement standards to the existing science subject and combine these subjects
A majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the unique pūtaiao standards should be added to the existing science subject.
Four respondents had no view and six either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Those who agreed/strongly agreed commented that it would provide a pathway to Level 3 and more opportunities for their tauira to go on to tertiary study, that the proposal gives equal status to pūtaiao, and that it would provide a platform for teachers to be more innovative in the programmes.
Those who disagreed commented that pūtaiao and science should be separate subjects, as pūtaiao represents a Māori world view.
Adding hangarau standards to the existing technology subject and combine these subjects
More than half of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the unique hangarau standards should be added to the existing technology subject.
Seven respondents had no view and six either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
The commentary on this proposal was very similar to that above for science/ pūtaiao.
Adding pāngarau standards to the existing mathematics subject and combine these subjects
More than half of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the unique pāngarau standards should be added to the existing mathematics subject.
Seven respondents had no view and five either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
The commentary on this proposal was very similar to that above for science/ pūtaiao.
Adding the relevant Level 3 TMoA standards to 17 existing subjects
The majority of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the relevant Level 3 TMoA standards should be added as appropriate to 17 existing subjects. Three had no view and four either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Those who supported this proposal commented that it would help ensure Māori knowledge does not die; that it would provide more opportunities for hapū and whānau, and to support teenagers in their learning pathways. One respondent who agreed said that Māori students should have the right to combine these standards with mainstream subjects.
The four respondents who disagreed or strongly disagreed said that the Māori medium learning areas should be recognised as unique subjects in their own right.