John Gerritsen, Education correspondent

The Secondary Principals Association says some members want a temporary alternative to online NCEA literacy and numeracy tests to become permanent.

In poor communities, about 60 percent of students failed the online reading, writing and maths tests, or common assessment activities (CAAs) in May.

Secondary Principals Association president Louise Anarau said students who failed could instead reach the requirement through internally assessed standards, but only until the end of 2027.

She said the alternative pathway was especially useful for students who struggled with exams.

"The Year 12 learners this year, over 50 percent of them who didn't achieve the CAAs in Year 11 have done so as Year 12, more so through the alternative pathways assessment," she said.

"We know that our Māori, Pacific learners perform better in alternative assessments to exam-like settings and and the transitional arrangement allows for that."

Anaru said, as a result, some principals wanted the alternative pathway to remain permanently.

"Principals with Māori, Pacific learners and lower-income communities are calling for the transitional arrangements for the alternate pathway systems to remain on a permanent basis," she said.

Anaru said the online tests created an equity divide between schools and increased the number of school-leavers with no qualification.

"I am hearing from principals, particularly in high-equity schools, a concern that there will be an increase in leavers with no qualifications," she said.

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