A push for a change in attitude over how we view and compare certain high school subjects.

An Auckland teenager's criticising the NCEA system, who believes subjects like calculus and physics are harder than art and media studies, and should be given more weight.

The Onehunga High School student made the comments, after coming runner-up to this year's Dux of his school.

Former NZQA chief executive Bali Haque told Mike Hosking it's an old-school attitude which needs to change.

"There is still out there I think the perception that media studies and horticulture are easier than physics but really they are just different, I think we have got to start getting that message across a bit more than we have done."

He said NCEA is a description certificate of all the things a student can do.

LISTEN ABOVE AS BALI HAQUE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING