Twice as many students are now leaving New Zealand's mainstream schools before they finish, according to RNZ reporting by John Gerritsen published on 22 June 2026. Government education officials are now looking for ways to keep at-risk teenagers in school.

At the same time, schools publicly called for more money and better support for vulnerable students, as reported on 23 June 2026. These two things happening together — more students leaving, and schools asking for help — are likely to push the government toward major changes.

Why this matters

When students leave school early, they face real problems later. They are more likely to struggle finding jobs and have poorer health. The system relies on students finishing their education so they can move into jobs or further study.

Education officials are looking at solutions. These could mean new types of schooling options, hiring more specialists to help students with learning or behaviour problems, or giving schools more money. So far, the government has not publicly said exactly what it will do.

There is a problem with current alternatives. The Education Review Office checked Te Kura, our distance learning school, and found that online-only learning does not work well for at-risk students, according to ERO's findings published 22 June 2026. Many students who are stood down, expelled, or cannot attend a regular school end up at Te Kura. If the government listens to this concern, it will need to either change how Te Kura works or build new face-to-face schools — neither of which exists right now.

What schools are saying

Schools say they need more money and better ways to support students. The students leaving school are often dealing with trauma, learning difficulties, involvement in the youth justice system, mental health problems, or unstable housing. Schools argue that the way the government funds them — based on how many students attend — does not account for how complicated these students' needs are.

For the government's plan to work, schools need to be on board. Any solution that relies on schools delivering help to students will fail without their support. Right now, schools are working cooperatively with officials, which is a good sign.

The bigger picture

While the government tries to keep at-risk students in school, it is also trying to get more international students to study in New Zealand. It wants to grow international student numbers from 83,700 in 2024 to 119,000 by 2034, according to Reuters. International students bring money to the country.

There is a problem with doing both things at once. Schools are the same places dealing with both at-risk students and trying to welcome more international students. Money and teacher time are limited. The sector will push the government to provide enough funding for both priorities to work properly.

What happens next

Education officials are working on changes, but nothing has been officially announced yet. Parliamentary committees that check education spending, and the Education Review Office's own reviews, will likely push for answers. The ERO's concerns about Te Kura mean the government has to respond — agencies do not normally publish this kind of direct criticism without expecting a plan in reply.

The big number — twice as many students leaving — is what drives everything else. Until the government publishes the details — how many students, their ages, why they left, where they live — we cannot fully judge whether the government's response will work. If this information exists, the public should see it.