Relevance
Upper secondary education serves as the foundation for higher (post-secondary) learning and training opportunities as well as preparation for direct entry into the labour market. Those who leave school early with few qualifications are at a much greater risk of unemployment or vulnerability in the labour force and of having low incomes.34
Current Level and Trends
In 2002, 63 percent of school leavers (33,000) left school with at least Sixth Form Certificate. This proportion has increased considerably from 47 percent in 1986. However, most of the increase occurred in the late 1980s. Since 1990, the proportion has fluctuated between 63 percent and 66 percent.
The proportion of school leavers attaining an A or B Bursary or Scholarship also increased during the period 1986 to 1991 and has remained around 18-22 percent over the past decade. In 2002, 19 percent of school leavers (10,000) had attained an A or B Bursary.
The lack of growth in the proportion of school leavers with higher qualifications since the early 1990s may be partly explained by an increase in employment and training opportunities for those without higher qualifications. Trends in the proportion of school leavers with higher qualifications are also influenced by changes in policy - such as the school leaving age - as well as student achievement.
Figure K2.1 Proportion of school leavers
with Sixth Form Certificate or higher, 1986-2002
Source: Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Social Development
Note: Bursary or higher includes A or B Bursary, Scholarship (to 1989)
and National Certificate Level 3 or above (from 1996)
Sex Differences
In 2002, 68 percent of female school leavers had Sixth Form Certificate or higher qualifications compared to 59 percent of males. Between 1986 and 2002 the proportion of school leavers with at least Sixth Form Certificate improved at a faster rate for females than for males.
Table K2.1 Proportion (%) of school leavers with higher qualifications, by sex, selected years, 1986-2002
| Sixth Form Certificate or higher | Bursary or higher | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| 1986 | 45.2 | 48.1 | 11.6 | 10.0 |
| 1991 | 63.5 | 69.2 | 21.1 | 23.4 |
| 1996 | 59.0 | 66.5 | 17.8 | 22.0 |
| 2001 | 59.4 | 68.1 | 15.8 | 21.2 |
| 2002 | 59.0 | 67.6 | 16.7 | 21.5 |
Source: Ministry of Education,
Note: Bursary or higher includes A or B Bursary, Scholarship (to 1989)
and National Certificate Level 3 or above (from 1996)
Ethnic Differences
Māori lag considerably behind other ethnic groups in the qualifications they attain at school. In 2002, 39 percent of Māori school leavers and 54 percent of Pacific school leavers attained Sixth Form Certificate or a higher qualification. This compares with 68 percent of European students and 84 percent of Asian students.
There is also a substantial difference between ethnic groups in the proportions leaving school with Bursary or similar higher qualifications. In 2001, four percent of Māori and Pacific school leavers gained an A or B Bursary or National Certificate at Level 3 or above, compared with 22 percent of European and 41 percent of Asian school leavers. There has been little change in these proportions over the decade to 2002.
Table K2.2 Proportion (%) of school leavers with higher qualifications by ethnic group, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2002
| European | Māori | Pacific | Asian | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Form Certificate or higher | ||||||
| 1991 | na | 37.4 | 52.2 | na | na | 66.3 |
| 1996 | 68.9 | 37.4 | 53.7 | 81.5 | 60.0 | 62.7 |
| 2001 | 68.5 | 40.6 | 54.7 | 84.7 | 63.7 | 63.6 |
| 2002 | 68.4 | 38.9 | 53.5 | 84.4 | 67.7 | 63.3 |
| Bursary or higher | ||||||
| 1991 | na | 5.1 | 7.4 | na | na | 22.3 |
| 1996 | 23.7 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 41.7 | 18.8 | 19.9 |
| 2001 | 21.2 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 42.2 | 20.5 | 18.4 |
| 2002 | 22.2 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 41.3 | 21.1 | 19.1 |
Source: Ministry of Education,
Note: Bursary or higher includes A or B Bursary, Scholarship (to 1989)
and National Certificate Level 3 or above (from 1996)
Socio-Economic Differences
Young people from schools that draw their students from low socio-economic communities are less likely than other young people to attain higher school qualifications. In 2002, only 45 percent of school leavers from decile 1-3 schools (in the most disadvantaged communities) attained Sixth Form Certificate or higher qualifications, compared with 60 percent of those leaving decile 4-7 schools and 77 percent of those leaving decile 8-10 schools.
