NCEA Exams: Some Will Go Ahead

School exams will go ahead today for some students, the exam authority says, if your school has not been damaged by the earthquake.

Thousands of secondary school pupils are due to sit their NCEA and Scholarship exams today, but many spent a sleepless night huddled outside or in evacuation centres, or rattled by the 7.5 magnitude quake which was felt across most of the country.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) said this morning that exams will proceed as planned today if your school has not been earthquake affected.

"If it has been affected and is closed, an emergency derived grade process is available to reduce any disadvantage to students," it said in a statement.

Decisions about which schools sit exams will be made by each school, NZQA said, and students and their parents are advised to contact their school directly to find out whether exams will be going ahead.

There are widespread school and early childhood centre closures following the quakes.

Ministry of Education deputy secretary Jerome Sheppard said they were telling schools and early childhood centres from North Canterbury to Wellington to stay closed until buildings had been checked.

Schools and early childhood centres in areas affected by tsunami warnings had also been told to stay closed while warnings were in place.

A staff member at Maidstone Intermediate in Upper Hutt contacted the Herald to say the school would be closed today because they had no power.

Single story buildings require a visual check for damage before being re-opened. Multi-storey buildings also need to be checked by an engineer before being re-opened, Sheppard said.

If in doubt schools and early childhood centres in other areas should also remain closed, he said.

Buildings should be approached with caution as there may be broken glass outside them.

"As people enter buildings, they should look out for broken glass, fallen light fittings and bookshelves, and other hazards.

"If there are signs of damage to a building's structure, schools should contact their Ministry property advisor."

Schools and early childhood centres should also check the Civil Defence website for regular updates about their area, Sheppard said.

Read more at NZHerald.co.nz