Maori blamed for NCEA slump

By ABIGAIL CASPARI AND CHERIE TAYLOR in Rotorua
The Central North Island's high Maori population is a factor in the region's poor showing in the NCEA, a principal says.

Results show less than a quarter of Central North Island schools made or beat the Level 1 national average for the NCEA.

The results are slightly better for Year 12 (formerly form 6) students taking Level 2 NCEA and Year 13 (form 7) students sitting Level 3 NCEA.



Rotorua Lakes High School principal John Ellis was disappointed his school fell below the national average in each level but said it wasn't fair to compare regional figures with national ones because up to half of local students were Maori. Nationally Maori, who traditionally had problems with NCEA, accounted for only about 18 per cent of students.

Results tables also did not explain factors like how schools assessed students, he said.

Rotorua Girls' High School principal Annette Joyce said results being published in the media were not a fair reflection of how schools were doing.

"It doesn't say anything about the students who got Level 1 in Year 12 or Level 2 in Year 13."

Overall she was pleased with how Year 11 to 13 students had done, saying most students were now leaving with a qualification.

A programme at the school to raise Maori achievement was proving a success, Mrs Joyce said.

In 2001 33 per cent of Maori students were leaving school without a qualification. That had since dropped to 8 per cent.

Te Kotahitanga is a professional development project based on research by Waikato University which is being trialed at 12 schools throughout New Zealand.

Facilitator of the programme at Rotorua Girls', Claudine Waitere, said it was successful because teachers developed strong relationships with students who were being captured in the first year. They then wanted to stay on and complete their studies.

"It's about hooking them in so they have a positive experience in Year 9 and Year 10 so they want to come back. It's about finding out what what they want to learn."

A high Maori population was not to blame for high failure rates among local schools, Ms Waitere said.

"It's about teaching not about Maori.

"We need to give our children pride in themselves and in their environment and then they do achieve."

Having Maori teachers also helped.

"It's about walking that talk so they can see that they too can do well," she said. "It's also about showing respect and then the children mirror that."

Year 10 student Jasmine Walker, 14, hopes to one day be a flight attendant. In the meantime she is succeeding at school and enjoying the teaching environment. "It's good here because the teachers understand you and help you. Especially Whaea Rae. She helps me a lot," she said.

At Rotorua Boys' High School, 51 per cent of Year 11 students passed Level 1 NCEA.

Its students outperformed boys in many other schools - single sex and co-ed - throughout the country in NCEA Level 2 and in numeracy and literacy at level 1.

However, less than a third of Year 13 students sitting Level 3 last year passed.

Deputy principal Malcolm Harison said the same group of students did not perform well in Years 11 and 12.

"It's just one of those things. We worked hard with that group and battled and achieved what we expected."

Taupo-nui-a-Tia College failed to reach the national average in Level 1 with 53 per cent of Year 11 students passing.

Principal Graeme Ryan said that was because 15 students had enough credits to pass but had not achieved the literacy requirements to get Level 1.

"We are still getting used to it like all other schools. We are going to make [literacy] a priority this year." Mr Ryan was thrilled about how well his Year 12 students had done with 70 per cent passing level 2.

Opotiki College, with 76 per cent, had the highest number in the region of Year 12 students passing level 2. The national average was 61 per cent.

Principal Maurie Abraham said his school consistently outperformed larger schools in the region, attributing students' success to programmes catering for students' needs and abilities.

"At Year 12 we have three totally separate English programmes."

Of the Year 13 students, 41 per cent passed level 3. However, the goal for most students was to achieve Level 2.

Mr Abraham said compared to other decile 2 schools, his was a "shining beacon".