Students with chronic conditions should be eligible for a derived grade

We, the undersigned students, parents, educators and concerned citizens, respectfully petition NZQA to revise the Derived Grades Eligibility Criteria to include students with long-term illnesses, ongoing conditions or trauma. Currently, NZQA policy states that "Any illness or chronic condition or trauma being present and/or managed that has been affecting a candidate before 1 October is regarded as ongoing and does not meet the eligibility criteria". This exclusion unfairly penalises students with chronic conditions who often face significant physical, emotional and psychological challenges that affect their academic performance.

Chronic pain and long-term health conditions affect about 1 in 6 New Zealanders. At Macleans College, this means that approximately 540 students have a chronic health condition or disability. The current policy of excluding these students from the calculation of grades means that they do not receive fair consideration for their unique challenges and are at a disadvantage in assessments. Specifically in Years 12 and 13, around 220 students at our school are affected, which can have a significant impact on their academic outcomes and future opportunities.

We request that NZQA amend the eligibility criteria for Derived Grades to include:

• Chronic conditions: Recognising chronic conditions and ongoing illnesses as valid reasons for derived grades, recognising that these conditions may intermittently affect students' ability to perform academically.

We believe that changing the eligibility criteria for NZQA Derived Grades to include students with chronic health conditions is an important step in creating a more equitable and inclusive educational environment. We urge NZQA to consider this change and take action to support all students to achieve their academic potential.

By signing this petition, you are supporting a fair and equitable change in NZQA policy to better accommodate students with chronic health conditions.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Gurmeet Kaur (20044), Emily Sewell (20168) or Coco Chen (20648).

Thank you for your support.