1) Temporary changes to NCEA and university entrance this year

Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced on Wednesday further temporary changes to NCEA and University Entrance (UE) will support senior secondary school students whose teaching and learning have been disrupted by COVID-19.

“The well-being of students and teachers is a priority. As we are all aware, COVID-19 has created massive disruption to the school system, and the Government is moving to ensure students will not be penalised, while preserving the integrity of our national qualification,” he said adding, “Today I can confirm that students will be able to earn additional credits through their learning and assessment programme, UE requirements have been modified with agreement from universities, and certificate and course endorsements have been modified. For each 5 credits a student attains towards their NCEA, they will be entitled to an additional 1 Learning Recognition credit, up to a maximum of 10 additional credits for students undertaking NCEA Level 1, or up to a maximum of 8 additional credits for students at NCEA Levels 2 or 3.”

As further recognition of COVID-19’s impact, this year University Entrance will be awarded to students who achieve 12 credits in each of three University Entrance Approved Subjects. They will still need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet the literacy and numeracy requirements to be awarded UE.

Students will be awarded a certificate endorsement if they achieve 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, rather than the usual 50. Similarly, students achieving 12 credits at Merit or Excellence level in a course – rather than 14 – will be awarded a course endorsement.

“These changes have been endorsed by my NCEA Professional Advisory Group,” the Minister informed.

2) Healthy Homes Standards statement of compliance deadline extended

The deadline for landlords to include detailed information in their tenancy agreements about how their property meets the Healthy Homes Standards, so tenants can see the home they are renting is compliant, has been extended from 1 July 2020 to 1 December 2020.

The Healthy Homes Standards became law on 1 July 2019. The Standards are phasing in new rules which landlords will need to meet in relation to heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress, draught stopping and drainage.

The next step of the phase-in was to have landlords provide tenants with a statement of compliance providing information on if and how their rental property complies with the Healthy Homes Standards.

But COVID-19 has constrained landlords’ ability to meet this compliance by 1 July, hence the extension.

3) Release of initial list of supported training to aid COVID-19 recovery

Education Minister Chris Hipkins noted on Tuesday that the Government has made it easier for New Zealanders who want to train in industries where demand is expected to grow as the country recovers from COVID-19.

“The fund [$320 million Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF)], announced as part of Budget 2020, will encourage and support New Zealanders to undertake vocational education and training in these high-demand industries,” he said.

Salient points:

• The Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) will pay costs of learners of all ages to undertake vocational education and training

• The fund will target support for areas of study and training that will give learners better employment prospects as New Zealand recovers from COVID-19

• Apprentices working in all industries will have costs paid

• High demand areas, including in regional New Zealand, targeted

• In many cases apprentices, trainees and learners at tertiary providers will save between $2500 and $6500 per year.

4) New fund for women now open

Organisations that support women are invited to apply to a new $1,000,000 fund as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response.

“We know women, and organisations that support women, have been affected by COVID-19. This new money will ensure funding for groups that support women and women’s rights,” said Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter, adding, “We welcome applications to improve outcomes for women and girls which have not been covered by other government funds. This may include initiatives such as opening a community centre for an additional day in order to provide extra services, or supporting a women’s centre to deliver counselling services.”

Applications for the fund are open now, and will close on Monday 15 June. More information on the fund can be found at www.women.govt.nz/news/covid-19-and-women/covid-19-community-fund

5) Support for arts and music sector recovery

A jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help our arts and music industry recover from the blow of COVID-19. These are:

• $7.9 million for Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers

• $70 million over three years for a Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund

• $60 million over three years for a Cultural Innovation Fund

• $20 million for a Cultural Capability Fund

• $16.5 million for a New Zealand Music Recovery Fund

“Thousands of jobs will be supported through today’s $175 million package in a crucial economic boost to support the arts and creative sector, which contributes nearly $11 billion a year to GDP, employs 90,000 people and supports the wellbeing of communities. The arts and music sectors have been decimated by COVID-19. Modelling based on Treasury forecasts suggests that without government intervention, the cultural sector will be hit roughly twice as hard as the rest of the economy, and 11,000 jobs could be lost within a 12-month period,” noted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The first wave of funding becomes available from July 2020, and full details are available at www.mch.govt.nz.

– TIN Bureau