Numbers gaining NCEA passes continues to climb

The number of secondary school students gaining NCEA qualifications continues its upward trend, according to figures from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) released today.

The 2008 statistics showed 63 per cent of the Year 11 students gained NCEA level one, 66 per cent of Year 12 students gained level two, and 54 per cent of Year 13 students gained level three.

This is the fifth year in a row that numbers have risen at all three levels.

In 2004, 55 per cent of Year 11 students passed level one, rising to 56 per cent in 2005, 59 per cent in 2006 and 62 per cent in 2007.

The number of Year 12 students passing level two increased at about the same rate, 57 per cent in 2004, 60 per cent in 2005, 63 per cent in 2006 and 65 per cent in 2007.

Year 13 students completed the trend, rising from 49 per cent in 2004 to 51 per cent in 2005, 52 per cent in 2006 and 54 per cent in 2007.

- NZPA