NCEA results show slight increases

Based on results by participation rate, 83 per cent of Year 13 students achieved Level 3 NCEA. Photo / iStock

NCEA results are out - and the data shows slight increases across the board.

Based on results by participation rate, 83 per cent of Year 13 students achieved Level 3 NCEA, compared to just under 81 per cent last year.

University entrance was also up, with 63.7 per cent of pupils securing a place at a tertiary institution, up from 61 per cent last year.

Level 2 achievement went from 88.2 per cent to 88.6 per cent this year. While 85 per cent of Year 11s achieved their Level 1 NCEA, compared to 84 per cent last year.

Maori achievement rates increased, with 75.5 per cent achieving Level 3 this year, compared to 71 per cent last year, while Pasifika pupils also made gains, rising from 66 per cent achieving Level 3 to 70 per cent.

Eighty seven per cent of New Zealand European students achieved the same grade, up from 84 per cent last year. And among Asian students, 85.7 per cent gained NCEA Level 3 compared to the 84.9 per cent who scored the qualification in 2015.

The statistics also show that numeracy rates among Year 13s remained stable, while literacy rates increased slightly, from 95.9 per cent to 96.1 per cent at Year 13.

In February, Education Minister Hekia Parata said the provisional data had indicated achievement was continuing to rise.

"Education is more important than ever before and these results show more of our kids than ever are gaining the qualifications they need at school," Ms Parata said.

She added: "The latest results are a tribute to the hard work of students, teachers, parents and wider whanau. They show that since we took office in 2008 Level 2 achievement rates have risen 15 per cent. That means thousands more of our young people are leaving school every year with the skills and qualifications they need to succeed."

* The Herald will have a fuller analysis of the NCEA results later this week.