education again

National's Education spokesperson Bill English told meeting recently that 30 per cent of school leavers aged 16 had failed basic NCEA standards - equating to 15,000 students a year, which he called a damning statistic.

Hes right - good to see an opposition educations spokesperson named English, who said a National government would push for a nationwide recognised standard of achievement for school leavers.

NCEA Mk II perhaps. Students need to be taught the three Rs, or they wil just pick up the three B's - burglary, benefits, and booze.