Foreword

The Government is aware of the enormous impact that education has on a child’s life. That is why we are committed to ensuring Aotearoa New Zealand has a world-leading education system – from early childhood through to tertiary education.

While New Zealand’s education system measures up well internationally, Pasifika students need to be achieving better outcomes. Lifting Pasifika educational achievement is a priority. This is vital to enhancing the overall reputation of our education system as well as improving our country’s productivity and economy.

The Government’s priorities for Pasifika education are the focus of the goals and actions in the Pasifika Education Plan. We want everyone in the education sector to concentrate on what will make the most difference: building strong learning foundations, lifting Pasifika literacy and numeracy and increasing the number of Pasifika students achieving school-level qualifications.

Improvements to the education system will come from Government initiatives which include lifting participation in high-quality and culturally responsive early childhood education, National Standards on literacy and numeracy, plain language reporting to parents, ongoing investment in professional leadership and increasing youth engagement through policies such as Youth Guarantee.

We all have a responsibility to ensure successful outcomes. Attitudes and expectations across the education system need to change if this is to happen. Students, families, communities, early childhood centres, teachers, principals, schools, board of trustees, tertiary education organisations, the education sector agencies and Government, must all contribute to ensure success. Pasifika education is a shared responsibility.

The Pasifika Education Plan encourages personal responsibility, promotes collective accountability and emphasises the importance of urgently lifting Pasifika achievement. The Government has high aspirations for Pasifika students. We expect families, communities, schools and teachers to have the same high aspirations.

Pasifika students deserve the opportunity to live a full and rewarding life with improved social and economic outcomes. The Government is committed to a change for the better and we look forward to working with everyone to ensure this happens.

Hon Anne Tolley
Minister of Education

Hon Georgina te Heuheu
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs