The Minster of Education says it's the teachers who have made the difference to improving NCEA literacy and numeracy pass rates.  

Small improvements were seen last year with 57% of NCEA students achieving the numeracy standard, 61% achieving the reading standard, and 55% achieving the writing standard. 

Erica Stanford told Heather Du Plessis-Allan she knows there's a long way to go but it's the schools, principals, and teachers who have done the heavy lifting.  

She says they've moved heaven and earth since this has become compulsory, and it's made the difference.  

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