More than 10,000 teens left school in 2025 with no qualifications
Over 10,000 New Zealand teenagers left school last year without any formal qualifications, marking a continuing rise.
New Zealand saw more than 10,000 school leavers in 2025 with no formal qualifications, continuing an upward trend. Education Ministry figures show that 15 percent of school leavers over the last three years had no NCEA qualifications, up from previous years when the figure sat at 10–11 percent. In the poorest neighbourhoods, more than a quarter of leavers had nothing. Advocates and education leaders are concerned that high qualification failure rates may be becoming entrenched in the system.
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What outlets are saying
RNZ
More than 10,000 teens left school in 2025 with no qualifications
At schools in the poorest neighbourhoods more than a quarter of leavers had nothing.
1News
More than 10,000 teens left school in 2025 with no qualifications
A jump in the number of teens leaving school with no formal qualifications has continued.
Otago Daily Times
Rise in school leavers with no qualifications
Newstalk ZB
Steve McCracken: Secondary Principals' Council Chair on the increase in students leaving school without qualifications
There's cries of an education failure, as the number of students leaving school without qualifications reaches a decade-high.
RNZ
More school leavers with no qualifications becoming 'new normal': advocates
Education Ministry figures show that after years at 10-11 percent, 15 percent of those leaving school over the last three years had no NCEA qualifications.
1News
More school leavers with no qualifications 'new normal': advocates
There are fears the high number of school leavers with no qualifications is becoming baked into the education system.