Ian McKelvie: Final hurdle for students

OVER the next four weeks, 1904 Wanganui students will sit their end-of-year NCEA and scholarship exams.

Students have worked hard to prepare for them and I congratulate them for their efforts so far. These exams represent the final hurdle after a year of classroom study, homework and internal assessments. I am passionate about education - I want every Rangitikei teen to be provided with the opportunity to leave school with the skills they need to reach their potential. I want them to be in a position to pursue the career of their choice, and I am particularly proud of the fact that under National, school achievement has gone from strength to strength.

We appreciate that the higher the achievement at school, the better the opportunities for further education, employment, higher wages and an improved standard of living. It's why as a government, we set a target of 85 per cent of all 18-year-olds achieving NCEA level 2, or an equivalent qualification by 2017.

Last year, 81.3 per cent of Wanganui and Manawatu 18-year-olds held an NCEA level 2 qualification or above. This represents an increase of 7 percentage points since 2011.

We are making very real progress towards our target, which highlights the benefits of the Government setting itself ambitious goals. These results mean thousands more Kiwi students are leaving school every year equipped with the skills they need to undertake further education or training.

It goes without saying that teachers and principals do a fantastic job, and I thank them for their dedication. I have no doubt the hard work, commitment and support of teachers, students and their families will be reflected in this year's NCEA results. I wish all our students well for their exams.

While I'm on the subject of education, it is timely to mention that public consultation on the Government's revamp of the Education Act is now open. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of our education system to submit their views. The Education Act informs the direction of New Zealand's education system, and the current act is 26 years old. The proposed update draws on the recommendations of the Taskforce on Regulations Affecting School Performance which reported in 2014 that the present legislation focuses heavily on administration and compliance. This is a great opportunity to redesign the act for the 21st century and to concentrate on student achievement. The consultation process began last week and runs until December 14. Further information about the consultation and how to make submissions can be found at www.education.govt.nz/education-act-update.

-Ian McKelvie is the MP for Rangitikei.