Standards in music: From process to outcomes

The development of unit standards in Music brought together many leading personages from the music industry and education in a highly consultative process. However, discrete filtering systems, 'market' nervousness and uncoordinated procedures for introducing the lower levels into secondary schools, have meant that NZQA have restricted the possibility of the unit standards being offered to their full potential now that they are registered. Meanwhile, Ministry pressures and an ideological argument for the restoration of nationally ranked examinations from the schools within the educational elite niche market has meant a stay of execution for the existing examination system and has placed the credibility and future of unit standards into question.