Senior secondary school pupils will be eligible for support even if they have not spent the full 20 days away from the classroom.
Schools outside Auckland returned yesterday after 16 days in Alert Levels 3 and 4, meaning pupils would not have been eligible for learning recognition credits under the original support plan, which required pupils to have their learning disrupted for 20 school days.
The Ministry of Education and New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) confirmed the change yesterday.
NZQA chief executive Grant Klinkum said pupils had been significantly affected by the loss of classroom time.
To reflect the shorter amount of time missed, pupils would be eligible for two fewer credits for a new maximum of eight at NCEA level 1 and six at levels 2 and 3.
Pupils would earn one learning recognition credit for every five credits earned through assessment.
Only pupils who had been disrupted would meet the threshold for changes to subject endorsements and university entrance, he said.
