School Achievement and Retention

It is the Governments goal to have schools that are both attractive to Māori students and that produce long-term benefits for Māori.  This must, however, be equally matched by Māori students and their whānau understanding the long term benefits of staying at school.

The Government works to ensure that:

• schooling options such as Kura Kaupapa Māori exist, to meet the preferences of whānau;
• resources are allocated to teacher education to improve the quality of teaching for all students;
• working with whānau and communities to bring about positive engagement with schools.  Examples include the Te Mana campaign and Iwi partnerships.

There is a range of initiatives in place to address underachievement and retention at the national, school and classroom levels.  Some of these include the Suspension Reduction Initiative, School Effectiveness Projects, and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.

Boys

Teachers, families and communities, quality providers and other key stakeholders are critical to achieving key shifts in education.   In July 2004 a reference group was established to advise on matters relating to the education of boys in New Zealand schools.  Research into strategies to enhance the educational achievement of boys is underway as part of the related work programme.

Suspensions

There are multiple opportunities to re-engage with the schooling system – including through alternative schooling opportunities.  Any student who is suspended will always be given another chance to re-enrol at a school.  For students who are non-enrolled or are truant there are a number of programmes that attempt to locate such students, understand their reasons for non-engagement, and get them back to school.

For students past the compulsory leaving age who have no qualifications there are also multiple opportunities to enrol with tertiary providers.  Many tertiary providers have courses specifically for students who have no school qualifications.

Adult and community education providers, as well as many on-the-job training providers, are available for adults who now wish to establish life-long learning patterns.

Te Mana

Information strategy’s such as Te Mana seek to increase Māori engagement in the education sector by empowering rangatahi with information about the various opportunities available to them.  Te Mana’s point of difference is that it provides important information in a manner relevant and accessible to the Māori audience that features contemporary role models like musicians and actors advocating the benefits of education.

One of the key focuses for work undertaken through the schools support service is to improve achievement for those students who are or are at risk of underachieving, including Māori and Pasfika.  One of the programmes that are being used is the Te Mana video resource.

The impact of Te Mana is closely monitored by the Ministry of Education to ensure that the programme not only hits the right audience but that it represents value for money.

The overall objectives of the Te Mana campaign are to increase participation and raise achievement in education.  The evaluation of all the major elements of the programme shows the positive role model approach to media advertising is well received and is generating positive action among rangatahi and whānau.  The 0800 number and Te Mana resources are generally considered effective and relevant.  Te Mana also receives regular letters from rangatahi to the Taiohi magazine editor, and ongoing anecdotal feedback from many sources including regional offices, pouwhakataki, community groups and parents.

Literacy

A range of professional development aimed at improving student achievement and improving teacher content and pedagogical knowledge in literacy and numeracy is funded directly by Government.  These are provided by School Support Services (literacy and numeracy in primary and secondary schools) and Learning Media Ltd (literacy in years 1- 8).

Schools can also access a range of interventions including Reading Recovery and Resource Teachers: Literacy to meet the needs of particular groups of students.

Careers advice

Career Services rapuara administer the Informed Tertiary Education Decision Making initiative, under the brand name ‘Take off to Tertiary’.

The ‘Take off to Tertiary’ initiative is aimed at providing potential tertiary students with enhanced access to independent information and advice regarding their decisions.  It consists of workshops, printed and internet information, online web chats and promotional activities.

For more information please visit: www.careers.govt.nz