Pass rates for students from schools in poor communities were well below those of the most advantaged students, NZQA figures showed. Photo: 123RF
Most teens from schools in poor communities failed NCEA literacy and numeracy tests in May.
Qualifications Authority figures showed their pass rates were well below those of the most advantaged students.
The figures divided participating schools into three groups according to their Equity Index numbers, the system for gauging socio-economic disadvantage among school children - those with fewer socio-economic barriers to achievement, those with moderate barriers, and those with more barriers.
Schools with more barriers to achievement had pass rates of 35 percent in reading, 35 percent in writing and 20 percent in numeracy.
Those with moderate barriers had pass rates of 58 percent in reading, 55 percent in writing, and 43 percent in numeracy.
The schools with fewer barriers to achievement had pass rates of 71 percent in reading, 55 percent in writing, and 43 percent in numeracy.
More than 50,000 students sat the tests in May, and more than 30,000 were from schools with moderate barriers to achievement, about 12,000 were from schools with fewer barriers, and 7000 to 8000 were from schools with more barriers.
Students must pass all three online tests or, for the next two years only, complete a suite of alternative NCEA standards, before they can receive any NCEA qualifications.
They are allowed to resit the tests and the next round will be offered in September.
When the tests were offered twice last year, the cumulative pass rates were 69 percent in reading, 64 percent in writing and 61 percent in numeracy.
For schools with more socioeconomic barriers to achievement the two testing rounds last year resulted in pass rates of 44 percent in reading, 40 percent in writing and 35 percent in maths.
Principals are worried the new literacy and numeracy requirements could result in more teens leaving school with no qualifications.
Last year 16 percent of school leavers did not have at least NCEA level 1 or an equivalent qualification.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said she would receive advice in the coming weeks on whether the use of NCEA standards as an alternative to the online tests should be extended beyond 2025.
"Several factors will be considered in that advice including co-requisite achievement data, feedback from the sector and the government's work programme, including work done through the Curriculum Refresh and the NCEA Change Programme," she said.
"Once a decision is made that will be communicated as soon as practicable."