Ministers Release Maori Education Report

Monday, 31 May 2010, 5:18 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government

Ministers Release Maori Education Report by scoop.co.nz

Education Minister Anne Tolley and Associate Education Minister Dr Pita Sharples today released Nga Haeata Matauranga, the Annual Report on Maori Education for 2008/09.

“We are beginning to see some positive gains in Maori education, but much more hard work lies ahead,” says Mrs Tolley.

“The need to step up and transform the performance of the education system for Maori is being recognised.

“Major Government initiatives such as National Standards and the Youth Guarantee will have a great effect on raising achievement, while the expansion of the Te Kotahitanga professional development programme for teachers is also making a significant contribution.

“Early childhood education also plays an important part, and new funding of $91.8 million announced in Budget 2010 for five intensive, community-led participation projects in high priority areas will directly benefit Maori families.”

Dr Sharples says that the education system is doing better in certain areas for some Maori students, but that success needs to be more widespread.

“NCEA data continues to show strong patterns of achievement among Maori learners attending secondary schools where teaching and learning were done though Maori language and culture. Results show Maori-medium learners were more likely to meet literacy and numeracy requirements for NCEA Level 1 than their peers at English-medium schools.

“The number of kura kaupapa Maori, kura Maori, and kura teina has increased from 13 in 1992 to 88 in 2008. And enrolments at bilingual schools grew by 38.9 per cent (or 2,909 students) between July 2007 and July 2008.

“Nga Haeata Matauranga 2008/09 highlights a broad range of activities underway to improve the performance of the system for and with Maori – in mainstream schools as well as Maori-medium settings – designed to raise achievement, increase participation, encourage te reo Maori in classrooms, and support culturally responsive practices by teachers and school leaders,” says Dr Sharples. “Ka Hikitia – Managing for Success is the Government’s plan of action for achieving these priorities.

“Other areas of progress for Maori learners include increased retention in school and increased participation in higher level tertiary education,” he says.

The report can be viewed at:

http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/5851/75954

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Tags: Education, Maori, Maori education