The number of pupils applying for assistance from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, to help pay their NCEA exam fees, is continuing to decrease.
For the 2016 school year, there were 804 applications for financial assistance received from Otago school pupils. Nationwide, there were 26,733 applications.
NZQA statistics released under the Official Information Act show the number of pupils asking for financial assistance has dropped 10.7% in Otago and 14.7% nationwide, during the past five years.
Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson could not explain why the numbers were declining, but by the same token, he believed it could not be attributed to fewer people knowing about the financial aid.
He said schools and the NZQA worked closely to ensure teachers and families were aware of the assistance available.
Despite the declining number of applicants, it was an ''important mechanism'' for any families struggling with the fees, to get government assistance, Mr Wilson said.
''This seems to fit the purpose and it's clearly needed by about 800 families across Otago.''
NZQA assessment deputy chief executive Kristine Kilkelly said all pupils should have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and the financial assistance policy was put in place so that NCEA fees did not create a barrier to this.
The entry cost for NCEA is $76.70 a year for all NCEA standards. Other than the increase in GST in 2010, these fees have not changed since 2005.
The NZQA fee represents a 33% contribution to NCEA direct costs, which include exam-setting, marking, printing and/or sorting, holding exams, distributing exam papers, secondary school moderation, professional development and support, school liaison, quality assurance and support.
Ms Kilkelly said if families were eligible for benefit or income-based financial assistance, the cost of NCEA was reduced to $20 per pupil, or $30 per family.
Regardless of whether fees have been paid or not, NCEA assessments - including exam papers - are marked and pupils can log on to the NZQA's website and see their results.
Each year, the NZQA proactively alerts pupils to the fact that they have outstanding unpaid NCEA fees, and they must pay them to have their results recorded on their Record of Achievement, and to receive certificates.
