A government report says secondary schools are failing to ensure Pacific Island students choose NCEA subjects that get them into high-paying jobs.
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs says only 23% of Pacific students meet the requirements to undertake university studies.
The Ministry says, by comparison, nearly half of pakeha students choose the right subjects for university study.
Around 30% of Pacific Island young people plan to look for work on leaving school according to the report and most in tertiary education don't study for degrees.
The report says the Pasifika Education Plan launched last year hopes to change this but will need the co-operation of a range of government agencies.
The report says students from families with prior experience of tertiary education are more likely to consider it themselves.
