New Zealand qualifications and grants
Qualifications
There are several qualifications available in New Zealand for educators interested in furthering their interest and expertise in teaching literacy and numeracy to adults. A number of tertiary education organisations throughout New Zealand are currently accredited to offer these qualifications.
Please visit the Kiwiquals or individual TEO websites for further information on these qualifications. Current providers for the national certificates and diplomas can be found on the NZQA website.
National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Vocational/Workplace) – NQF level 5
The NCALNE (Vocational) certificate is a 40 credit qualification intended to raise the skills of the adult educator to develop the literacy and numeracy skills of learners within the context of a training/education programme. It is particularly relevant for existing practitioners who deliver programmes and who are recognised as adult educators in their own field. They might be workplace trainers and/or assessors, or vocational tutors or lecturers; the programme could be on-job or off-job. The compulsory section of the National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Vocational/Workplace) contains Unit 21204, Develop adult learners' literacy and numeracy skills within a training or education programme.
National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Educator) – NQF level 5
The NCALNE (Educator) certificate is an 81 credit qualification for educators interested in developing specialist expertise in literacy and numeracy teaching and learning. People for whom the National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education is relevant are likely to include existing practitioners and aspiring adult literacy and numeracy educators.
National Diploma in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Level 6)
The 120 credit National Diploma in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Level 6) is a qualification designed for people pursuing a vocation that requires significant expertise in adult literacy and numeracy, such as: tutors or lecturers of foundation courses; community and workplace literacy and numeracy tutors; staff involved in professional development for adult literacy and numeracy tutors; personnel involved in resource development for adult literacy and numeracy learners; and those involved in the academic leadership management of adult literacy and numeracy education for their organisation.
Diploma in Education (Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education) – NQF equivalent level 6
This is a Diploma of Education with a specialisation in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education at the University of Waikato . This programme is for students who have minimal tertiary experience or qualifications, but have experience in adult literacy and numeracy education. The papers in this qualification are offered in a variety of modes. While the qualification represents one year of fulltime study, it can be completed part time. Entry is by application.
Graduate Diploma Teaching (Adult literacy and numeracy) - NQF equivalent level 7
The Graduate Diploma is a 120 credit qualification offered by Victoria University of Wellington . The Diploma is designed to give graduates a thorough grounding in the knowledge and skills needed to teach literacy and numeracy in diverse adult settings including embedded contexts. Students have the choice of either block or online modes. While the qualification is designed for part-time study over two years (maximum of three years), it can be completed full-time in one year.
Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education) - NQF equivalent level 8
This is a Postgraduate Diploma of Education with a specialisation in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education at the University of Waikato . To gain entry into this programme, students generally must have an undergraduate degree. However those with alternate qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The papers in this qualification are offered either in block mode or online. While the qualification represents one year of fulltime study, it can be completed part time. Entry is by application.
Master in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (MAdLitNumEd) – NQF equivalent level 9
The master’s is a 120 credit qualification offered by the Auckland University of Technology . The degree aims to equip literacy and numeracy educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to address the diverse challenges of teaching literacies in New Zealand in the 21st century.
Masters and PhDs in Education
Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington have the capacity and expertise to supervise these qualifications with an adult literacy and numeracy focus. Contact the universities directly for further information.
Adult literacy educator grants
The purpose of Adult Literacy Educator Grants (ALEG) funding is to build the capability of educators/trainers to effectively teach adult literacy and numeracy by assisting them to access and complete qualifications.
Organisations receiving TEC funding for adult literacy educator qualifications must demonstrate that the funded qualification:
- provides tutors with the capability to teach adults literacy and numeracy
- provides tutors with the capability to target those learners with the lowest levels of literacy and numeracy
- recognises the diverse contexts in which tutors are operating to raise adults' literacy and numeracy skills
- draws on New Zealand frameworks and materials (such as Learning Progressions for Adult Literacy and Numeracy)
- draws on international and New Zealand research evidence on effective practice
- provides good pathways between other qualifications, and
- contributes to the network of provision.
From 2010 the revised purchasing framework takes a strategic focus to continue funding providers not receiving Student Achievement Component (SAC) funding for the qualifications.
Some ALEG funding is available to further subsidise higher level qualifications (level 6 and above) at a rate determined by the TEC depending on the specific qualification.
Only TEOs which are not eligible for SAC funding and which received ALEG funding in 2009 are eligible for ALEG funding from 2010 for the NCALE qualifications.
All new students from 2010 will need to pay fees (as set by individual TEOs).
Students who enrolled in 2009 and earlier are covered by the previous funding allocations which were for the whole qualification as long as it was completed within the required timeframe (not including any repeated study).