Vae Unuka News Today

An education researcher says NCEA pass rates in the Cook Islands and Niue will 'fall through the floor' if literacy and numeracy tests become compulsory in 2026.

The Education ministry is defending the Cook Islands’ poor performance in the latest National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) literacy and numeracy tests, arguing that they are still in pilot phase.

When 242 Cook Island and Niuean students sat new literacy and numeracy tests in June, 18 percent passed reading, 45 percent passed writing, and 23 percent passed numeracy.

When 242 Cook Islands and Niuean students sat new literacy and numeracy tests in June, 18 percent passed reading, 45 percent passed writing, and 23 percent passed numeracy.