A local school principal is “disappointed” with a national news story published online suggesting the school allegedly told students they couldn’t sit their NCEA exams if voluntary school fees weren’t paid.
Botany Downs Secondary School told the Times a Stuff.co.nz news story’s headline was incorrect as the issue in the spotlight is subject fees and not voluntary school donations at all.
The news site reported that a mother was fuming after her daughter arrived home saying she wouldn’t be sitting her NCEA exams unless her school donations were paid.
However school principal Karen Brinsden said the misunderstanding has arisen because the school had not effectively communicated when the NZQA admission slips would be available.
“The theme of school donation was never raised by any party, parent and or journalist. It was disappointing the story title chosen by the (stuff.co.nz) journalist as it was misleading to the public,” she said.
At the end of each of the senior awards ceremonies, she explained those students who had completed their clearance process (i.e. outstanding library books, sports uniform and or subject fees) were issued with their NZQA examination admission slip and were able to go on study leave.
“While we had communicated to both parents and students over the preceding weeks the clearance process and informed them of outstanding items, we had inadvertently omitted to communicate that NZQA admission slips would be issued at a set date and time,” Brinsden said.
“Students who had yet to complete the process were asked to return over the coming days to do so. We have never withheld an admission slip.”
Students are able to download them from the NZQA website and have them authorised by the Principal’s Nominee at school.
“We sent a communication out to all parents on Friday morning and apologised for any misunderstanding this may have caused,” Brinsden said.
“I would like to thank parents for the positive way they engage with the school and for their ongoing support of the college. ”
Meanwhile NZQA’s deputy chief executive assessment division Kristine Kilkelly confirmed to the Times it had spoken to the college about this issue.
“The school regretted any confusion their administrative processes have caused and confirmed all students would be receiving their admission slips,” she said.
Students can also access their learner login on the NZQA website to print their admission slip for NCEA examinations.
NZQA has advised the school to review the way it communicates on these issues in future.
“All students registered in NCEA are able to sit their exams and we are concerned when we hear a school may be preventing entry to examinations until charges, fees or voluntary donations are paid,” Kilkelly said.
“We remind all schools that they should not attempt to collect money for any reason by preventing access to examinations.”
