Scholarships to top schools

Applicants are wanted for new scholarships giving Maori and Pacific Islanders the opportunity to attend three of Auckland's top schools.

The Endeavour Scholarships aim to provide four boys and four girls with the chance to study at King's School, King's College or St Cuthbert's College.

The scholarships, which have been established by the three private schools, begin next year.

At the launching at St Cuthbert's College last night, principal Lynda Reid said the three schools wanted to help address perceived inequalities in the education system.

She drew attention to the closures of the Maori schools Queen Victoria and St Stephen's.

The scholarships will give four boys the chance to begin their intermediate study at Year 7 at King's School from next year before completing their secondary education at King's College.

Two scholarships for the girls will begin next year in Year 9 at St Cuthbert's, with four scholarships to begin in Year 7 from 2003 on.

The cutoff date for applications is November 15.