The government has released more details of its upcoming review of the NCEA.

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said he wanted to modernise the qualification system to ensure it met the needs of secondary school students.

The review group would be chaired by former director of the Industry Training Federation, Jeremy Baker, he said.

Other members included former school principal Barbara Cavanagh, engineering lecturer Michelle Dickinson, and two tertiary students.

The group's role would be to write a discussion document to go out for public consultation.

He said the most important issues to be addressed would be the over-assessment of students and the workload of teachers.

Mr Hipkins said he wanted to counter teacher burnout and put more emphasis on actual teaching.

The group has been appointed for an initial term of one year starting on 1 February.

Mr Hipkins announced the review in December.

The National Certificates of Educational Achievement were phased in from 2002. Students could achieve the certificate at level one, two or three by completing sufficient individual achievement or unit standards through a mix of internal assessment and external exams.