A leading researcher on Maori education says the release of ethnic breakdowns for NCEA passes will help identify ways to improve Maori achievement levels.
Dr Liz McKinlay from Auckland University's faculty of education says data showing only 52% of Maori students got NCEA level one at year 11, compared with almost 80% of Pakeha, shows how persistent the gap is between Maori and Pakeha students.
Waatea News reports it's the first time the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has released data in that form.
Dr McKinlay says several research teams, including her own Starpath project, are working on ways to close that gap.
With the type of data now available, she says it will be possible to measure how effective these initiatives are.
