Secondary school principals are asking for changes after many students failed new NCEA literacy and numeracy tests. Māori and Pacific students had the most failures. In May, 55,468 students took the math test, and 30,196, or 54%, failed. Among those, 77% of Pacific students and 71% of Māori students did not pass. In reading, 54% of Māori and 63% of Pacific students failed, while in writing, 55% of Māori and 56% of Pacific students also failed.
Students must pass all three tests to get any NCEA qualifications, although they can use other standards to meet the requirement this year and next year. Vaughan Couillault, president of the Secondary Principals’ Association, expressed concern that the current system might worsen the gap in educational equity.
He suggested that some students might not perform well in online tests, not due to their skills, but because of the testing format or difficulties with new NCEA standards. Schools previously gave all Year 10 students a chance to take these tests, but they might change this plan to ensure students are adequately prepared before they attempt the exams.
Pip Tinning, president of the Association of Teachers of English, called the results for Māori and Pacific students “absolutely horrific.” She emphasized the need for teachers to understand what students struggle with and mentioned that educators don’t want to solely “teach to the test.”
English teacher Katrina Dyne noted that the results pressure schools to focus resources on improving student literacy. She highlighted the importance of foundational literacy for students’ future job prospects and community involvement.
Students can retake the tests, but many face low pass rates even after multiple attempts. Dyne also pointed out that literacy coordinators are working hard to help students prepare but worry about the repeated failures affecting student motivation.
In May, more than 55,000 students took the tests, with Year 10 students showing the highest pass rates. The next round of tests is scheduled for September.
