Schools have hit the final week of the third term and secondary principals are warning that this year is shaping up to be the worst of the pandemic.
They say two-and-a-half years of Covid-19 disruption has left many teenagers short of both the motivation and the credits they need get their NCEA qualifications.
Their warning comes just weeks after the government announced a $20 million package to provide extra teaching and tutoring.
Education correspondent John Gerritsen filed this report.
