A university academic says our education system is more flexible than many European ones, despite figures showing Maori, Pasifika and low decile students are less likely to take academic subjects.

A New Zealand Herald investigation has found those students are also less likely to pass academic subjects than Pakeha, Asian or high decile students if they do take them.

Dr Earl Irving from the Auckland University Starpath Project told Rachel Smalley some European countries sort students out into academic or vocational courses at the age of 11.

But he said our system is more flexible.

"There is no reason why a Maori or Pasifika youngster or child from a low-decile school cannot go to University."