More leaving school

WELLINGTON: Principals say high employment and Covid19 disruption are behind a spike in teenagers leaving school early.

Education Ministry figures showed nearly one in five of last year’s school leavers was under the age of 17, the highest figure in a decade.

Retention rates were worst in lowdecile schools and among Maori pupils. A third of Maori school leavers were under 17.

In Gisborne, Northland and the West Coast, about 30% of school leavers were under 17.

The increase in early leavers coincided with lower qualification rates for school leavers.

Almost 13% of last year’s leavers did not have any NCEA qualification and only 21% had level 1.

Te Manihi Tumuaki Northland Principals’ Association chairman Alec Solomon said some pupils dropped out of school because of the pandemic, but others had found work.

‘‘We have seen some students leave earlier than we have in the past. Some of those have taken up opportunities for employment. A significant number of those have gone into the trades. There’s obviously been a building boom here, and that’s really meaningful employment, that’s wonderful mahi,’’ he said.

Mr Solomon said schools were trying to reengage those pupils who had drifted out of the school system.

However, he warned this year was even more challenging than last year because of the unpredictable nature of staff and pupil absences.

The most vulnerable pupils needed to know as soon as possible if changes would be made to the NCEA qualification to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

In Taranaki, the percentage of early leavers jumped from 18%20% in most years before the pandemic to 26% last year.

Spotswood College principal Nicola Ngarewa said schools’ connections with young people had suffered because of the pandemic and some found it too hard to return to class.

‘‘Things start to accumulate — the pressure, the habits that they start to form whether it’s sleeping a little bit longer when they’re not at school and then the stress on top of that and the anxiety,’’ she said.

Ms Ngarewa said more teens had left school early because they had jobs.

‘‘They’re picking up initially parttime work and that then becomes something more consistent,’’ she said.

‘‘I do have concerns that some of the jobs that they’re going to, while they’re good for the here and now, do they open up future opportunities and improved quality of living as they get older and I think there’s big question marks there.’’

Ms Ngarewa said ideally young people who found work should be able to continue studying for meaningful qualifications. — RNZ