Pasifika, Maori, boys lagging behind at primary school

Figures published this week show Maori and Pasifika students and boys continue have lower rates of achievement. Photo / Thinkstock

Inequality reigns across primary school children's reported ability to learn to read, write and do maths, national data shows.

Figures published this week show that while pass rates have climbed slightly, with more than 70 percent of junior students now meeting National Standards, Maori and Pasifika students and boys continue have lower rates of achievement.

National numbers show that 78 percent of primary and intermediate children met the reading standard for their age in 2014. The rate for writing was 71.1 percent and for maths was 75.2 percent.

The figures showed an upward change of less than 1 percent. Otago had the highest pass rates, with Gisborne and Northland lowest.

In Auckland, children showed about a three percent increase across reading, writing and maths. A regional breakdown can be read below.

The ministry of education's analysis said while Pasifika students reported the greatest increase since 2012, reported achievement was still lower for Maori and Pasifika than for others.

Reported achievement for boys was lower than for girls, and considerably so for reading and writing.

"Overall, this data shows that there are pressing issues of inequality," a ministry data sheet read.

"Whilst there are particular challenges and successes for each group, overall, achievement for M?ori and Pasifika across the three standards is much lower than for Asian and European/P?keh? - roughly 10% to 20% points worse."

"With regards to gender, girls' achievement is much higher than boys (except in maths)."

All of the numbers dropped at Year 7, typically when children change schools and head to intermediate.

Education Minister Hekia Parata issued a press release on education achievement data yesterday.

She said the information also showed that primary school achievement in writing and mathematics had increased in 15 of the 16 regions since 2011, that achievement in reading is up in 13 of the regions and that early childhood education participation rates have increased in 14 of the 16 regions.

"[Those] numbers are great news for kids and their parents and a tribute to them and their teachers," Ms Parata said.

"The National Standards data, which measures progress at primary and intermediate level, also means teachers are better able to identify and meet student needs.

Ms Parata said public information about education system performance is vital for students, educators, iwi, parents and employers.

"It helps parents and iwi understand how their children's schools are performing, helps teachers provide the right support to the right students and assists schools, employers and training providers to work out what skills are needed to boost local economic performance."

Last month a report commissioned by the Education Ministry said teachers' judgements of how well children were performing against the standards still lacked dependability.

The National Standards School Sample Monitoring and Evaluation Project covered 15,838 children at 100 schools during 2013. Read it here.

National Standards Regional Breakdown (App users click here)