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Fifteen percent of school leavers had no NCEA qualifications last year

Published

3 years ago

August 2, 2023

The number of teenagers leaving school with no qualifications spiked last year.

Official figures show 15 percent or about 9600 of the 64,400 students who finished school last year did not have any level of the NCEA, up from 11 percent in 2019 before the pandemic began and slightly worse than the previous worst figure of 14 percent recorded in 2012.

A Ministry of Education document blamed the increase of no qualifications on more students leaving school before they turned 17 and fewer schools offering a full NCEA level 1 course.

The effect was strongest in decile 1 to 2 schools, where 26 percent of students left with no qualifications.

The figures ranged from 80 percent of leavers at one decile 1 school having no qualifications while at another it was closer to just 5 percent.

Among Māori students in English-medium schools, 27 percent left school last year with no qualifications, a much worse result than the low of 18 percent recorded in 2017.

For Māori teenagers learning predominantly in te reo Māori the figure was 17 percent.

The figures showed 21 percent of school-leavers last year were under the age of 17, the worst figure since 2009 and well off the best figure of 15 percent recorded in 2015.

Among male school-leavers, 24 percent were under 17 last year, compared with 19 percent of female school-leavers

The ministry’s document said 15 percent of last year’s under-17-year-old school-leavers left because they were continuously absent from school, the highest rate since 2012 and three percentage points more than in 2021.

It said just over 5 percent of last year’s under-17 leavers moved overseas, slightly more than in the preceding two years, but less than in pre-Covid-19 years.

More than a third (36 percent) of last year’s Māori school-leavers were under 17, as were 23 percent of Pacific school-leavers.

NCEA attainment falls
Among last year’s school leavers 85 percent had at least level NCEA 1 or equivalent, 75 percent at least level 2, and 52 percent at least level 3.

The level 2 figure was a sharp drop from the 79 percent recorded the previous year and the lowest figure since 2012.

Only 61 percent of teens leaving decile 1 to 2 schools had at least level 2, compared to 91 percent of those leaving decile 9-10 schools.

The rate for Māori school-leavers was 59 percent, down from 64 percent the previous year, and for Pacific students 69 percent, eight percentage points lower than in 2021.

The figure of 52 percent for NCEA level 3 was the lowest since 2014 and down from a peak of 60 percent in 2020.

Less than 40 percent of last year’s leavers had University Entrance (UE), the lowest figure in the past decade of records.

Most Asian school-leavers – 74 percent – had at least NCEA 3, ahead of Pākehā with 54 percent, 43 percent for Pacific school leavers and 32 percent for Māori in English-speaking education and 51 percent for Māori learning mostly in te reo Māori.

A graph showing the percentage of 2022 school leavers (broken down into ethnicities) that met NCEA Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements.A graph showing the percentage of school leavers (broken down into ethnicities) that met NCEA Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements. Photo: Supplied / Ministry of Education
The Gisborne region had the worst statistics. Only 33 percent of its school-leavers had at least NCEA level 3 or UE and 24 percent had no qualifications.

In Auckland, 61 percent of last year’s school-leavers had at least NCEA 3 or UE and in the Wellington and Otago regions only 10 percent of leavers had no qualifications.

Secondary Principals Association president Vaughan Couillault told RNZ high employment prompted a lot of teenagers to leave school last year before they had completed NCEA qualifications.

“There were far too many students leaving school earlier than we would like because you’ve got a situation where the economy was almost at full employment and everybody could get a job and so they sacrificed that sort of longer-term education journey for the immediate reward of employment, which could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing depending on the nature of the employment they’re going into,” he said.

“If you left school halfway through Year 12, didn’t get your NCEA level 2, but you went into a boat-building apprenticeship or a sparky apprenticeship or any sort of trade really, actually it’s probably a good thing. But if you went into a job that was lower-paid, isn’t likely to add value to you from a learner perspective and is a little bit more of a career cul de sac then that’s not a good thing and staying at school might have been better for you.”

Couillault said pandemic-related disruption to teenagers’ education might also have prompted more students to leave school early and with lower qualifications than they otherwise might have achieved.

He said 2022 was particularly bad and many students fell so far behind with their schoolwork due to illness and absence that they simply gave up and left school.

“I think we’re still suffering from the hangover of that and now chuck on top of that the economic environment that we’re in in terms of such a tight labour market across the board it’s a bit of a perfect storm.”

Couillault said it appeared fewer students were leaving school early this year and he was aware of several schools where rolls were increasing rather than decreasing as the year went on.

The Ministry of Education said a key driver of NCEA levels for school leavers in 2022 were high employment rates for young people aged between 15 and 24 years old and disruptions due to Covid-19.

Hautū (leader) Curriculum Centre Ellen MacGregor-Reid said the ministry had a significant programme of work focused on improving school attendance and engagement in learning.

“For young people who have left school with low or no qualifications, options are offered for them to reengage in learning to gain NCEA.

“For example, funding was increased for the Youth Guarantee, which can now also be undertaken part-time, enabling young people to balance study or training with other responsibilities, including work.”

VIA RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz