From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 3, December 2003.

Tonga’s Seventh Form students sat New Zealand’s University Entrance and Bursary Examinations for the last time this year.

Starting in 2004 they will be sitting a new Regional Form Seven qualification, called the South Pacific Form Seven Certificate.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be replacing its University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships Examination with the National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA), its new national qualification at the Form Seven level.

In the South Pacific, the new Form Seven Certificate serves as both a secondary leaving certificate and an entry qualification to universities and other tertiary institutions.

Director for Education Viliami Takau said it will be recognised internationally because the basis for this qualification is that of New Zealand Bursary and it is being supported by the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) who had played a vital role in its establishment and development.

Subjects

He added that the subject prescriptions of this regional Form Seven qualification would remain as it is now, with changes made in the context to suit students of the region.

Viliami said that the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA), was the administrator of this new regional qualification which was developed with NZAID funding.

“The main objective is for the region to have a qualification that is regionally and internationally recognised and at the same time suitable for us.”

Hard work

‘Alisi Katoanga, Principal of the Tonga High School National Form Seven, said that Tonga would still be doing the Form Seven level because it was more cost effective for students than actually doing it at university.

“Form Seven level is more appropriate for students here because it introduces and exposes them to the foundation level of University and they get the grip of how hard they have to work,” said ‘Alisi.

Viliami said that the SPBEA was working with tertiary institutions in the region to determine their university entrance requirements. The qualifying entrance grade for New Zealand Universities is currently a B grade in at least three subjects.