Figures from the Ministry of Education show that nearly one in five of last year’s school leavers were under the age of 17, the highest figure in a decade.
Retention rates were worst in low decile schools and among Māori students, with a third of Māori dropouts under the age of 17.
In Gisborne, Northland and West Coast, about 30 percent of school leavers were under the age of 17.
The increase in the number of early school leavers coincided with lower qualification rates for school leavers.
Nearly 13 percent of last year’s leavers had no MBO qualification and 21 percent had only level 1.
Te Manihi Tumuaki Northland Principals’ Association president Alec Solomon said some students had dropped out of school because of the pandemic, but others had found work.
“We’ve seen some students leave earlier than we have in the past. Some of them have taken job opportunities, a significant number have gone into trade, there’s clearly been a construction boom here, and that’s really meaningful work, that is a great mahi,” he said.
Solomon said schools were trying to re-engage those students who had been driven out of the school system.
However, he warned that this year was even more challenging than last year due to the unpredictable nature of the absence of staff and students.
He said the most vulnerable students needed to know as soon as possible if any changes would be made to the Commission’s qualification to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
In Taranaki, the rate of early leavers has risen from 18 to 20 percent in most years prior to the pandemic to 26 percent last year.
Nicola Ngarewa, principal of Spotswood College, said schools’ connections with young people have suffered from the pandemic and some have found it too difficult to go back to class.
“Things start to pile up — the pressure, the habits they start forming or it’s sleeping a little longer when they’re not at school and then the stress and the anxiety,” she said.
Ngarewa said more teens had dropped out of school because they had a job.
“They’re picking up part-time work initially and then it gets a little more consistent,” she said.
“I’m concerned that some of the jobs they’re going to do, while they’re good for the here and now, offer future opportunities and a better quality of life as they get older and I think there’s big question marks there.”
Ngarewa said that ideally young people who have found work should be able to continue studying for meaningful qualifications.