Otago Polytechnic plans to do more to support young and inexperienced learners to try to reduce the number dropping out.
While the institution's attrition rates compared "very favourably" with other polytechnics, the results for students in lower level certificate or foundation studies courses were of concern, acting chief executive Dr Robin Day told last week's polytechnic council meeting.
Preliminary figures for this year's students showed while the attrition rate across all programmes was 16.8%, the rate for students in NZQA level 1-3 courses was 23.6%.
Attrition rates dropped significantly as students progressed to higher learning with the rate for postgraduate students falling to 7.02%.
Last year, the attrition rate across all programmes was 15% and the rate for students at level 1-3 was 20.9%.
Students did not always leave because they were not coping with their studies, Dr Day said.
Some left for other courses or because they found work.
Nationally, the average first-year attrition rate for polytechnic students was 56% for level 1-3 students, 46% for students at level 4 and above, 44% for diploma students and 26% for degree students, he said.
Council member Rebecca Parata said keeping young students in class would become of a "hot issue" as the Government proceeded with its Youth Guarantee scheme.
Otago Polytechnic is one of 18 polytechnics and 10 private training providers which will collectively receive $52.7 million next year and in 2011 to teach 2000 at-risk 16- and 17-year-olds.
More young and inexperienced students who had "fallen through the gaps" at secondary school would be a reality for Otago Polytechnic and it would have to ensure they received increased support so they stayed, Ms Parata said.
