Big changes forecast in classroom racial mix

By REBECCA WALSH education reporter

The number of Maori schoolchildren will equal Pakeha by 2050, an Education Review Office report into multicultural schools predicts.

Ministry of Education statistics show that in July last year the student population comprised 65 per cent Pakeha and just under 20 per cent Maori.

The Maori figure is set to rise, until by mid-century the country's school population will be one-third Maori and one-third Pakeha with other ethnic groups making up the balance.

In the study, the ERO has assessed how schools manage children's ethnic diversity and emphasises the need for schools to provide effective learning environments for students from a range of different backgrounds.

The percentage of Pacific Island and Asian children is also predicted to increase to make up 21.2 per cent and 11.2 per cent of the school population respectively.

The review office says not enough is being done to prepare teachers for the diversity.

Students from other countries, including Russia, Poland, Greece and Albania, and from Africa and the Middle East are adding to the mix.

While many schools are already leading the way and the national curriculum recognises that schools are multicultural, teacher in-service training needs to more adequately reflect that, the report says.

A multicultural school is defined by the ERO as one in which students from at least two ethnic groups (other than Pakeha) together comprise at least 20 per cent of the roll.

The report says multicultural schools are likely to be large secondary state schools in urban areas, situated in the North Island and usually in poorer areas.

Almost 60 per cent of multicultural schools are in the lowest four deciles (socio-economic ratings), while only 6 per cent are in the highest decile.

About 10 per cent of multicultural schools are in the South Island, while more than 40 per cent are north of the Bombay Hills.

At July 1 last year, Pakeha comprised 65 per cent (473,112) of the total student population of 727,396, Maori 19.9 per cent (144,738), Pacific Islanders 7.5 per cent (54,553) and Asians 5.9 per cent (42,821).

In the decade to 1996, the proportion of Pakeha in the child population (including preschoolers) fell from 72.6 per cent to 62.4 per cent. In contrast, the proportion of Maori rose from 20.5 to 24.5 per cent, Pacific Islanders from 5.6 to 7.6 per cent and Asians from 1.7 to 5.

The report says the cultural background of children can make "a crucial difference to their academic success."

"Good multicultural schools go beyond mere recognition of other cultures and actively respect and sustain difference. Perhaps most importantly, they cultivate close links with the community around them."

Robin Staples, principal of Hillary College in Otara, agrees that in-service training needs to put more emphasis on multiculturalism, particularly for teachers to develop ways of encouraging students who speak English as a second language.

"What we used to call multicultural schools 10 years ago encompassed four or five nationalities. Now it can encompass up to 60 or 70."

The immigrants - a Herald series

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