Otago schools above average

Provisional NCEA achievement data from the Ministry of Education shows Otago secondary schools are outshining national averages.

Hekia Parata
Hekia Parata

Education Minister Hekia Parata said an increasing number of New Zealand pupils were achieving NCEA level 2 - the recognised minimum qualification for success.

The provisional roll-based data showed achievement in NCEA level 2 had risen in 2016, by one percentage point to 77.4%, compared with 2015 results.

''One of the highlights of the provisional results is the significant increase in Maori achievement of NCEA level 2, which has lifted by 2.9 percentage points to an impressive 73.5%,'' Mrs Parata said.

Although the Otago region's data has not yet been publicly released, Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gordon Wilson said he had seen the region's provisional NCEA level 2 roll-based data, and found Otago schools were doing much better than the national average.

It showed NCEA level 2 was achieved by 85.6% of pupils and 85.3% of Maori pupils.

''Yet again, the Otago figures are well above the national figures.

''It's also significant that the difference between Maori and the total, is very small - unlike the national figures. The participation figures are 91.6% for all and 88.9% for Maori.''

Mrs Parata said nationwide data also showed overall achievement of NCEA level 3 in 2016 had also increased, by 0.7 percentage points to 63.4%.

For decile 1-3 schools, achievement of NCEA level 3 had risen at an even faster rate, up 2.5 percentage points to 53.9%.

Provisional data for NCEA level 1 achievement in 2016 was 0.2 percentage points lower than the final 2015 figure, and provisional data for university entrance was 0.7 percentage points lower.

Both figures were expected to increase before the results are finalised, as schools update and provide late internally-assessed results, and pupils applied for review and reconsideration of their results, she said.

Mr Wilson said Otago's NCEA level 1, level 3 and university entrance data would not be
available until mid-year, when the finalised results were released.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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