Students leave school with higher qualifications

1 September 2006

More students leave school with higher qualifications

The trend of more students staying at school longer and getting higher qualifications continues, Ministry of Education senior manager David Lambie announced today.

“The overall picture for school leavers is positive,” David Lambie said.

The latest Ministry of Education statistics released today show that in 2005, 33 per cent of students left school with NCEA level 3/University Entrance compared to 32 per cent in 2004. In 2002 the figure was 27 per cent.

The percentage of students staying at school until Year 13 continues to increase. Year 13 was the last year of schooling for 59 per cent of leavers in 2005 compared with 58 per cent in 2004 and 57 per cent in 2003.

Only 13 per cent of students left school with no qualifications. This percentage has been reducing over time from 18 per cent in 2002.

“The Ministry of Education is working hard to encourage students to stay at school longer and get higher qualifications,” David Lambie said.

“More students are getting the qualifications they need to go on to tertiary study. This is important for the students; it gives them opportunities to achieve to their full potential, and that is important for our country. We need highly skilled, innovative thinkers to compete internationally.”

School leaver statistics are collected each year by the Ministry of Education as part of the 1 March roll return. These statistics include all full-time regular students, full-time adult students and special education class students who left school during the period 1 March 2005 - 28 February 2006, to go on to further education, training, the workforce or other activities.

A more detailed summary report and statistical tables on the key results of this statistical return can be found at
http://www.educationcounts.edcentre.govt.nz

ENDS

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