More than 20 Kapiti College students have packed out a select committee room to tell the Government how the education system failed them.

The group of 22 year 10 students, who are members of a specialised dyslexia form class, received a standing ovation from much of the education and science committee. The committee was gathered for an inquiry into dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism education, initiated by Green MP Catherine Delahunty.

"It's not the children who have a disability, it's the the education system which has the disability," teacher Sarah Sharpe said.

Did your school fail you? Share your stories, photos and videos. Contribute

The children, most of whom were affected by dyslexia or dyscalculia, told consistent tales of woe while their learning differences went undiagnosed. Several went undiagnosed all the way through primary school.

READ MORE:

* 'Systemic barriers' hurting dyslexic kids

* Dyslexics ignored by ignorant

"I used to go to a school whose teachers didn't understand, and who told me that the way I thought meant that I was unteachable," student Sam told the committee.

Supplied Sam from Kapiti College speaks to the inquiry. "I would punch myself because I thought I was stupid."

Sam attended six different schools with her dyslexia and dyspraxia undiagnosed. Her problems in the classroom ballooned outwards, causing her to violently lash out and carry a pocketknife to school.

"It was only the dyslexia that was triggering all this. [...] I would look at the page and it would move and twist.

"I would punch myself because I thought I was stupid. We're not stupid. A lot of people in this room could change parts of the world."

One child blamed his parent's divorce on his learning difficulties. Many were chronically absent in primary school, seeing themselves as too stupid to attend.

Dyslexia, a neurological difference that makes reading and writing incredibly difficult, was not officially recognised by the government until 2007. Students looking for support often have to privately fund expensive professional tests, and the committee has heard many go undiagnosed by teachers not trained in spotting them.

"Every teacher should learn about it because they will definitely come across a dyslexic child," student Erin said.

"I just want you to imagine going through school being petrified of reading out loud.

"Dyslexia can't be cured, but with the right education, resources, and testing, a child with dyslexia can go through school so much easier."

Five of the students couldn't afford an external assessment of their dyslexia, which must be updated every three years. Whilst school-based evidence is also accepted by the Ministry, external test are generally the norm. Without the test the they would be denied a reader/writer for their NCEA exams.

"A dyslexic assessment costs $300. I haven't had that yet, because it's too much money every three years. So for NCEA I'm not going to be able to get a reader writer, or use my laptop," one student said.

Kapiti College has put into practice several schoolwide measures designed to help dyslexics, such as non-cursive handwriting and blue printing paper. Students must decide for themselves whether to join the dyslexia-specific year 10 class.

The inquiry heard similar complaints about the lack of recognition last week. Wellington College's Ross Dunn had to go to the Children's Commissioner to get a reader/writer for a student who was diagnosed in year 11, while Therese Eberhard said she had to borrow money to fund the tests. 417 submissions were received, with 91 groups asked to speak directly to the inquiry.