Pasifika Education Overview

Pasifika Education Overview

Talofa lava, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa atu, Taloha ni, Ni sa Bula, Kam Na Mauri, Halo Olaketa, Ia Orana, Kia ora, Greetings.

Welcome to the Pasifika education section of the Ministry of Education. Pasifika education is a priority area of work for government and the Ministry. Accordingly there is much work going on in this area affecting Pasifika children, students and communities. This website is one way we can let people know what is happening and what is available.

From the main Pasifika education index page you will be able to access our publications, including our newsletter Talanoa Ako: Pacific Education Talk, see the strategic direction that is set out in the Pasifika Education Plan, find out about the Early Childhood Education Discretionary Grants Scheme and check out lots of interesting and useful statistics, research and information.

Introduction to Pasifika education

The different ethnicities that make up Pasifika peoples have a particular set of demographics that distinguish them from other ethnic groups in New Zealand. Pasifika peoples require specifically tailored approaches to education policy and initiatives.

Pasifika peoples are distributed in a few concentrated geographical areas. As at the 2001 census 31.36% of the total New Zealand population lived in the Auckland region compared with 61.8% of Pasifika peoples. One of the most disproportionate figures around the geographical distribution of Pasifika population is the urban preference. 97% of Pasifika peoples live in an urban area and 84% live within New Zealand's five largest urban areas. This contrasts with just 48% of New Zealand's total population.

Between 1996 and 2016 it is expected that the total Pasifika population will increase by about 60% or 83,000 people. As the majority of the Pasifika population currently resides in Auckland, this region is where the largest impact of this increase will be felt.

Presently one in ten children is a Pasifika child, by 2051 it is predicted that this will rise to one in five. At July 2003, 6.57% of children enrolled in early childhood education identified as Pasifika. At the same time, 8.23% of school students identify as Pasifika students, which is predicted to rise to 11% within thirty years. Some schools now have significant numbers of Pasifika students, sometimes up to 90% of a school's roll.

In 2003, 68% of the Pasifika school population were in decile 1, 2 or 3 schools compared to 26% of the total school population. Due to the younger age demography of the Pasifika population, 67.5% of Pasifika students are enrolled in the primary sector and only 29.3% in the secondary sector.

At July 2003 there were 13,764 Pasifika peoples formally enrolled as domestic tertiary students. This is a representation of 4.7% of all students. Over the past seven years, the number of domestic Pasifika tertiary students has increased from 4.7% in 1997 to 5.2% in 2003. In 2003, 30% of all Pasifika tertiary completions were for degree level courses, with 4% for postgraduate.

The rapid population increase that is expected provides an urgency to ensure the educational needs of Pasifika children are met across all three education sectors; early childhood, compulsory and tertiary education.

The Pasifika Education Plan is the latest in the line of plans for Pasifika Education, dating back to1996 when Ko e Ako `a e Kakai Pasifika was released following two years of consultation with Pasifika communities and education stakeholders. In 1998 the Ministry issued a report on the progress made against the goals in Ko e Ako `a e Kakai Pasifika and will be reporting annually on progress against achieving the goals in the 2001 Pasifika Education Plan.

To provide a strategic direction for Pasifika education in New Zealand, the Minister of Education launched the Pasifika Education Plan in April 2001. The focus of the Pasifika Education Plan is to increase Pasifika achievement in all areas of education through increasing participation, improving retention and focussing on effective teaching strategies in early literacy and numeracy. The Pasifika Education Plan has a series of goals and sub goals for each education sector and also sets out how these goals will be met. This plan is aligned with the Early Childhood Strategic Plan, Pathways to the Future and the Tertiary Education Strategy, both released in 2002.

The Ministry places priority on Pasifika education in its' Strategic Business Plan and the constant ongoing development of the Pasifika Education Plan reflects this priority. There are now a number of initiatives working within all three education sectors to achieve the goals of the Plan. Issue 4, No 1, (June 2002) of the Ministry's Pasifika education newsletter, Talanoa Ako: Pacific Education Talk, has details on the many initiatives announced in the 2002 Budget.

One of the areas identified as being crucial to achieving the long term goals of Pasifika education across all sectors is increased effective communication with Pasifika families and communities. Through this website, face to face (fono), local Pasifika radio shows and Talanoa Ako: Pacific Education Talk, the Ministry aims to increase the amount of useful information received by Pasifika communities. A variety of networks has been established to support Pasifika education. These are the Regional & Local Community Reference groups and the Pasifika Advisory group. Details of the newsletter, the Pasifika Advisory Group and other local networks are available from the main Pasifika education index page.

Please return to the main Pasifika education index and check out what the Ministry of Education is doing to work alongside Pasifika peoples and if you want to get in touch with the Ministry please see the contacts page or e-mail:
pacific.education@minedu.govt.nz