Local teachers are concerned outdoor education will be downgraded as the government overhauls NCEA.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen told the Wānaka App the school was “really concerned” about the prospect of outdoor education being de-valued as a result of the government’s proposed changes to the NCEA.

The proposed changes would split senior subjects into academic and vocational tracks, and it has been indicated outdoor education will not make the cut for the academic pathway, removing it as a subject choice and threatening its survival.

“Such a change would narrow the educational experience currently available to our students pursuing a university pathway,” Nicola said.

She said outdoor education is part of “the special character” of MAC and the broader community. 

“Outdoor pursuits subjects give students personal and social development through adventurous and challenging activities in a variety of environmental and social contexts, and through a mix of theoretical and practical instruction,” she said.

“Outdoor education also equips students with many essential life skills, including critical thinking, decision making, communication, and analysis of risk.”

MAC currently offers 10 classes of outdoor pursuits, but Nicola said she would expect this to drop significantly if it became a vocational subject, saying “students might feel pressured to take five academic-focused subjects in order to meet the requirements of the proposed Years 12 and 13 qualification, rather than the current option which allows for more flexibility”.

Outdoor education equips students with essential life skills, including critical thinking, decision making, communication, and analysis of risk, says MAC principal Nicola Jabobsen.

MAC outdoor pursuits head of department and health and physical education learning area assistant head Dave Cassaidy said the subject is taken by a large number of senior students, with 200 choosing to study it in 2026.

“At MAC, outdoor pursuits subjects have been part of the DNA of the school for the entirety of the 35 year tenure of the school,” Dave said. 

“It is supported by our school leadership team and the community, so I truly hope the proposed changes to the senior curriculum do not diminish the opportunities for future MAC students to also study outdoor education.” 

Dave said support for the campaign to retain outdoor education on the general list of senior subjects has been “overwhelming”, with the Education Outdoors New Zealand petition gathering 35,000 signatures in just eight days. 

He said outdoor education is the subject in the health and physical learning area currently showing strong growth, and EONZ national enrolment data shows outdoor education student numbers have more than doubled between 2008 and 2024, from 6549 to 14,309 students.

“This is under threat if the status of outdoor education is diminished and the courses are offered with a much narrower, prescriptive curriculum that may not cater to such a wide range of learners.”

Consultation is open until this Friday (September 19) on a proposal to replace NCEA with a new qualifications pathway.

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PHOTOS: MAC