Calder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCalder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 26 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11273. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.Dr CAM CALDER (National)to theMinister of Education: What recent reports has she received on improvements in the retention of students in secondary school?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Speaking of front pages the front page of theDominion Post this morning was not bad either. I am delighted to report that I have seen information from the Ministry of Education showing that the number of young people dropping out of school before the age of 16 is at an all-time low. Early leaving exemptions for students under 16 have declined significantly under this Government from a peak of over 4000 applications in 2005 to just over 300 last year. That is a decrease of 93 percent. Overall retention has increased under this Government for students staying on until at least their 17th birthday. Provisional data for last year shows an increase in retention rates from 79.3 percent in 2009 to 81.4 percent in 2012. We have more work to do in this area but I congratulate those schools that are making progress in engaging students and keeping our young people on track for a brighter future.Dr Cam Calder: What initiatives has the Government implemented to keep secondary school students in learning for longer?Hon HEKIA PARATA: This Government’s Youth Guarantee provides for a number of great initiatives with more than 10000 students involved last year across the country remaining engaged in education and gaining valuable skills. Initiatives such as trades academies and service academies have proved successful for 2340 students last year alone. I also agree with the Secondary Principals’ Association President Tom Parsons who said: “We’ve gotten smarter as educators and we’re more effective in looking towards [at-risk] learners.” Schools have been able to use an increasing number of supports available to them including the vocational pathways words of Andreas Schleicher—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon HEKIA PARATA: —from the OECD whom I am looking forward to welcoming to New Zealand—Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is now becoming a very long answer.Hon HEKIA PARATA: Oh—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Any further supplementaries?Dr Cam Calder: Is the Minister aware of any specific examples of innovative approaches by schools to keep their students engaged?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Yes I have seen a number at a number of schools. At Papakura High School for instance they have developed vocational pathways in primary industries construction and infrastructure and creativity. It has piloted a health and sports science academy—Hon Trevor Mallard: Oh that’s new!Hon HEKIA PARATA: —it is new as a matter of fact—and is bringing together curriculum and learning. Results to date show that students have significantly increased participation compared with their cohort previously. The Tāmaki College Trades Academy—Hon Trevor Mallard: Who wrote that?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Well I think these schools and their parents are very proud of their students making progress. Certainly this Government is. Attendance rates have increased for the students in the academy to an average of 85 percent and achievement rates have doubled and the overall school result has 90 percent achieving in the academy. I think that is great news.