Two Waipā school leaders are urging people to make their voices heard on a Government plan to remover outdoor education from the senior subject list.
Year 13 Te Awamutu College students make kono (flax baskets) on a bush survival trip. – Photo: Bernard Oliver.
The proposal abolishes NCEA and replaces it with a Foundational Award at year 11, a New Zealand Certificate of Education at year 12, and a New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education at year 13.
Outdoor education would exist as a vocational subject. An industry skills board would develop its curriculum and resources, and it would no longer be a subject students could take to gain university entrance.
The call for people to respond comes days ahead of the submission closing date – Monday (September 15).
Bernard Oliver, head of Te Awamutu College’s outdoor education department, called the plan “deeply disappointing”.
“From the outside, it’s easy to see outdoor education as students having fun outside of school – but those of us working closely with it know it is far more than that,” he said.
“The learning is authentic, experiential, and often intangible. Attributes like self-management, problem-solving, perseverance, and emotional intelligence don’t always fit neatly into assessment rubrics, but they are fundamental to success in life.
“The fact that these qualities are difficult to quantify does not make them less important.”
Greg Thornton
Cambridge High School principal Greg Thornton is also urging people to have their say on the proposal.
“I really encourage parents and kids to use their voice, because I know that outdoor education means a lot to our students and we have some very passionate families about that subject and about the ability for our students to learn the range of skills – leadership, as well as technical skills in the outdoors.
“Perhaps the substitution, or what they design in a vocational pathway actually provides really well for secondary school students – I don’t know yet.”
Thornton said outdoor education was so popular at Cambridge High class placements were allocated by ballot. This year, the subject was taken by 127 senior students across three Level 1 classes, two Level 2 classes and one Level 3 class.
Oliver, who has taught outdoor education at Te Awamutu College for the past 15 years, said he had seen firsthand the “profound impact” outdoor education had on students, “not only in terms of academic achievement, but more importantly, in developing resilient, capable, and well-rounded young adults”.
“Many of our students have gone on to pursue roles in outdoor recreation, environmental science, conservation, teaching, tourism, the defence forces, search and rescue, and emergency services,” he said.
Education Outdoors New Zealand plans to deliver a petition to parliament and had 33,000 signatures at last count.
Outdoor Education. Photo: Charles Parker, pexels.com
Outdoor Education. Photo: cottonbro studio, pexels.com
