Hekia Parata urges Northland schools to catch up

Hekia Parata

Northland is trailing the rest of the country in education with Minister of Education Hekia Parata urging schools to make work relevant to the jobs available.

In an interview with the Northern Advocate in Whangarei on Friday, Ms Parata said Northland still had some catching up to do.

"Well Northland is still somewhat behind the rest of the country but has been making real progress in the last five years," Ms Parata said.

That included the number of students leaving school with qualifications, the successful completion of qualifications and the rate of standdowns/suspensions. While each of these had improved more work was needed, Ms Parata said.

"Now we really want to grow that positive direction of travel."

The minister was in town speaking with educators, business people and regional leaders at the Tai Tokerau Regional Cross Sector Forum.

Ms Parata said what students were learning needed to marry up with the economic opportunities. In Northland that included dairy, forestry, fisheries, tourism and marine manufacturing.

"Partly it's making sure that what they're taught at school is relevant to what their opportunities might be," Ms Parata said. "In other words, that the kids can see what they're learning is linked to getting a job, is linked to them being able to get a better future."

She wanted kids who were doing well to do even better and kids that were disengaged to feel there was some relevance.

Despite one in five young people in Northland not being in education or employment last year, Ms Parata said there were jobs available. "Yes, there are opportunities available but it's making sure you have the right skills and qualifications for the jobs that are available," she said.

The education forum, aimed at improving collaboration between sectors, was the second of four in Northland this year.

The group who came to the forum included principals, business leaders, tertiary education providers, Northland police, Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai and Far North mayor John Carter.

The regional forums are an initiative introduced this year by Ms Parata after the success of a similar national forum.