We need to give ourselves more credit for our educational success.

That's come from the Vice-President of the Secondary Principals Association over the proposed changes to NCEA.

Deidre Shea told Mike Hosking a proposal for fewer exams is a good idea, as students tend to be over-assessed.

She says the NCEA method is similar to that used in universities.

"We are really well recognised as world leaders in term of what we do and I think we're a bit hard of ourselves, we don't give ourselves more credit. NCEA is a leading qualification."

Shea says the proposed changes will offer tweaks to further enhance the qualification system while getting rid of unnecessary assessments.

"Fundamentally, I think that's really sound. The challenge has been that assessments got in the way of learning at times because of the focus on too many credits in many situations."

LISTEN TO DEIDRE SHEA TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE