More needs to done to ensure all secondary students are well prepared for further learning and jobs, rather than collecting credits like fly buy points.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says the improvement in the number of learners achieving NCEA L1 and L2 is welcome.

The latest education statistics show that last year around 72% of all school leavers attained at least NCEA Level 2 compared with around 70% the year before and 66% the year before that.

“These young people are our future entrepreneurs, employers and employees, and we must not lose sight of the skills that promote success in learning and life.

“Educational success isn’t just about collecting credits,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Employers have been concerned for some time about young people failing to gain relevant skills at school, leaving them unable to compete in the job market and ill prepared for further learning.

“NCEA Level 2 has to lead to meaningful outcomes and needs to be clear signposted pathways to these outcomes.

“Government has to do more to ensure that schools, tertiary providers, and collaborations of secondary and tertiary organisations have the flexibility and are incentivised to successfully prepare young people for their next step in education as well as preparing them for work.

“To ensure our investment in education does boost skills and employment this requires accessible careers information including providing better information on employment outcomes.”

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