Many successful students will not receive their NCEA certificates this year because they haven't paid the $78 fee.
Over 14,500 students had not paid the NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) by the December 1 deadline last year - almost 2000 more than the previous year.
Post-Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) president Jack Boyle says it's unfair that students have to miss out on their certificates if they can't afford to pay the fee, and wants it scrapped.
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"We need to gear the system so that we're not creating unnecessary financial barriers for our young people," he told Newshub.
Mr Boyle recommends getting rid of the fee, and then looking at "other barriers beyond financial ones that are limiting opportunities for our young people".
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said in October last year that the Government would look into the issue, hinting that it may end up scrapping the fees for students.
Scrapping the fee was one of the recommendations to come from the latest NCEA review. A report compiled by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) found overwhelming support to get rid of the fee.
The NCEA results are released on January 15 for students who have paid their fee. For those who have not paid, they will be able to view their results, but not be awarded the qualification.
The recommendations made in the NCEA review are being considered by the Ministry of Education and Mr Hipkins is set to put forward recommendations to Cabinet to improve NCEA in April.
Newshub.
