Dr Malini Yugendran
Auckland, January 31, 2023
The high school dropout rate in New Zealand is a growing concern for the government and educational institutions.
Although the government has implemented a compulsory schooling system for children between the ages of 6 and 16, parents of 15-year-olds are still able to request an exemption.
According to the Ministry of Education, around 780 early leaving exemptions were approved in 2021.
And, the retention rate of students up to the age of 17 has decreased since 2020 and is now at its lowest level since 2013. Since reaching its high in 2015, senior student retention has decreased by 3.6%.
Ethnic breakdown
In 2021 retention of Māori school leavers was at 67.7.%. Retention of European/Pākehā students was at 82.1%, Pacific students at 82.6% and Asians was 94.8%.
Between 2020 and 2021, there was a decline in the proportion of pupils in all ethnic groups who stayed in school until they were at least 17 years old. Māori student retention decreased by 4.0%. European/Pākehā, by 2% Pacific by 2.4% and Asian were 0.8%.
Gender breakdown
Girls were more likely than boys to continue their education until they were at least 17 years old. In 2021, 84.4% of girls continued their studies whereas boys’ retention was 78.5%.
Decile breakdown
Retention fell in all deciles in 2021 compared to 2020 with lower decile schools experiencing greater decreases. Decile 9–10 schools had a drop of 1.6 percentage points from 2020 to 2021. Retention in schools in deciles 1-2 dropped by 3.0 percentage points from 2020.
Covid impact
The Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 is a top reason for the higher decline in retention.
Thasnim Saldhan, a learning coach and teacher at Ormiston Junior College who teaches mathematics and science said, “Student dropout rates, especially post covid, has been a major challenge in schools. The reason for dropping out varies from negligence, losing interest in education, and losing the support and encouragement of their caregivers to dropping out because they have no other choice. Some drop out because they come from a low socio-economic background and the family needs extra support to survive, especially post the pandemic. So students leave school to work and care for their families. Covid has significantly impacted schooling, particularly for marginalised populations that already deal with gaps caused by systemic inequalities.”
Failure of schools
According to the Ministry of Education, another factor contributing to the high dropout rate is the absence of engagement and assistance from the schools. Some students could become disinterested and eventually drop out if they feel their academic progress is not being supported enough. This can be particularly true for students with special needs or those who are struggling academically.
Consequences of dropping out
Studies show that children from low-income families are most affected. Lack of access to resources, poor housing, and inadequate nutrition are all factors that can make it difficult for students to focus on their studies and make it more likely for them to disengage from school.
High dropout rates have serious repercussions for both the individual and society. Unemployment, poverty, and poor health are more likely to affect students who drop out of school.
Ministry of Social Development research found that students who drop out of school earn, on average, $4,000 less annually than those who finish their degree. Additionally, they are more likely to be involved in crime and less likely to take part in community activities.
The vicious cycle
The low socioeconomic status and low social mobility affect the behaviour of disadvantaged youth in a way that further diminishes their chances of success, and this inequality becomes a vicious circle.
Sean Teddy, Hautū (Leader) Operations and Integration of the Ministry of Education said, “Many students who have become non-enrolled will face a wide range of experiences and challenges at home and in their wider communities that impact their lives.”
The Ministry of Education is taking steps to address the issue of high dropout rates by implementing various initiatives.
Attendance and Engagement strategy
The Ministry of Education launched the Attendance and Engagement strategy in June 2022. With this approach, the Attendance Service was gradually revamped to be more accessible to schools, Iwi, and whānau.
Mr Teddy explained, “the Attendance and engagement strategy sets out expectations of ākonga and whānau, schools, communities, and government agencies in addressing this complex problem. It builds on work that Government has already been undertaking alongside schools and communities to address attendance and engagement issues. Boards can prioritise government operational funding and locally raised funds they receive towards initiatives to support learners.
Intervention initiatives
The government invested an additional NZ$23 million into the ‘Better Pathways’ initiative this year. The ‘Better Pathways’ program expands eligibility and more effectively helps learners with little to no formal education return to school and find stable employment. Additionally, this project aids in preventing juvenile court involvement for children and adolescents. The collaborating police agencies think this strategy is highly warranted.
The Youth Guarantee programme provides 16-24-year-olds an opportunity to participate in a range of courses free of charge. Mr Teddy said, “The most recent evaluation of the Youth Guarantee programme found it was effective in keeping more young people in education during the period of the programme and participants were more likely to achieve NCEA Level 2 or equivalent than young people with a similar background.” It is reported that around 6600 learners participated in the Youth Guarantee programmes in 2021.
Similarly, the “Every Child Counts” scheme focuses on early identification and support for students at risk of disengaging from school.
These and other initiatives aim to help keep students in school and to provide them with the skills and training they need to succeed in the future.
Do visit the ministry’s website for more information on these outreach programs.
Dr Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
