Results are out, and school preening has begun!

Lists of NCEA pass rates - considered to be one of the best indicators of school progress - are available and many principals and staff are patting their backs at achieving pass rates of at or near 90%.

The results are notable for schools like the decile 1 James Cook High in Manurewa achieving a 90% pass rate, and Dilworth lifting its rate from the 60s to the 90s. Schools are rightly proud of these numbers; school success is a very good indicator of future success.

Here is a snippet of some Auckland schools:

As you'd expect, Baradene leads the way.

Now, take a closer look at number opposite Auckland Grammar - the school that parents are prepared to pay money just to go on the ballot. 25%? How is that possible?

Simple: Grammar have given NCEA the fingers some years back, deeming it insufficiently elitist for the Little Lord Fauntleroys who go there. Instead, pupils sit the Cambridge Baccalaureate exams. Some choose to sit NCEA, which Grammar only offers because they have to.

The point is, AGS is a public school, owned and run by the government, for the people.

How is it that a government school can so flagrantly disregard what is considered to be our prime examination tool for Kiwi kids?

If the system isn't working, fix it; if it is working, stop allowing Grammar to fund lifestyles of the rich & famous on the public tit.

 

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