RNZ: Science, English slide, as secondary school students seek life skills
RNZ: Science, English slide, as secondary school students seek life skills
One in five secondary school students studied life skills or personal development courses in 2025.
Education Ministry figures show the field has grown rapidly in popularity over the past 15 years, while core subjects science and English have slipped slightly, and maths has held its share of student enrolments.
The percentage of secondary school students enrolled in ‘life skills/personal development’ grew from eight percent in 2010 to 21 percent or nearly 68,000 in 2025, with 40 percent of those being Year 9 students.
