New action plan to boost MÄÂori student achievement

The draft strategy Ka Hikitia aims to make the education system more effective for Māori students.

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A new draft Māori Education Strategy focuses on boosting the achievement of Māori students by making the education system more effective for them.

'Ka Hikitia - Managing for Success: The draft Māori Education Strategy 2008-2012' sets out priorities, actions, targets and outcomes for the next five years. It's being released for public consultation today by Education Minister Steve Maharey and Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia.

The achievement of Māori has improved since the first Māori Education Strategy in 1999, and this represents a new stage of education by the Labour-led government based on the growing knowledge of what works for Māori.

Parekura Horomia says "the plan makes it clear the whole education system must make improving the way Māori students are taught a top priority. The system is performing well by international standards, but much more needs to be done to ensure the sector responds effectively to the educational needs of Māori students."

Steve Maharey says this strategy is informed by a greater understanding of what makes a difference for Māori students, both in the classroom and the community, "programmes like Te Kotahitanga, which challenge teachers' assumptions and expectations of Māori students, are already showing encouraging results."

Research shows that what makes the biggest difference for Māori students is a different approach to teaching. All leaders in education taking responsibility for Māori students achieving is also vital.

There are eight key actions to help students reach their full potential, including boosting Māori participation in early childhood education, improving access to Māori language education and making sure more young Māori stay at school.

The action plan also introduces provisional targets including:
. A 20 per cent reduction in the truancy rate of Māori students in Years 1 and 2, and Years 9 and 10
. Increasing Māori participation in early childhood education from 90 to 95 per cent by 2012
. Boosting literacy, numeracy and the number of Māori achieving university entrance.

"Māori students need to be able to succeed as Māori. The education system must engage them in a way that is relevant to them and their culture," Mr Horomia says.

Steve Maharey says the Labour-led government firmly believes that all New Zealanders must be equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to continue to drive our economic transformation.

Public consultation over the next three months will include 13 hui and meetings with key stakeholder groups. A final strategy is expected to come back for government approval in March next year.

A copy of the draft strategy and details on consultation are available in English and Māori at http://kahikitia.minedu.govt.nz

Eight actions proposed in Ka Hikitea:

. more proactive communications between boards of trustees, principals, teachers, their respective representative organisations and whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities
. continued strong focus on boosting participation in quality early childhood education
. strengthening the transition to school for children and whānau
. magnifying the gains from current literacy, numeracy, and professional development programmes that already provide evidence of improved outcomes for Māori
. more responsive mainstream schooling that builds on programmes that are working for Māori
. a stronger stance on early leaving exemptions combined with a more comprehensive approach to transition stages for young people that are being planned under the Realising Youth Potential work stream
. continued support to build capability in and access to Māori language education
. focused interactions with families, whānau, iwi, and Māori communities on developing productive partnerships where personal, parental, and professional responsibility for student presence, engagement, and achievement is shared.