NZ desperately needs MASSIVE education improvement for Maori.

Just some of the statistics now available justify the headling.

The latest NCEA results show a 12% decline in Level 1 pass rates. Two explanations given are that the schools that have moved away from that qualification in Year 11 are lower Equity Index schools (higher decile) and that the compulsory literacy and numeracy credits – just introduced – are having an impact. This impact – like many historic changes will be having a much greater impact on Maori as only 57.7% of Maori participants pass the Reading requirement (78.8% European), 55.1% of Maori participants passed Writing (74% European) and 38.1% of Maori participants passed the Numeracy (63% European). A student cannot be awarded Level 1 without all three.

There is ample evidence in education that we are long-term, and currently, negligent for Maori. Even before the 2024 decline, in 2023 28.3% of Maori school leavers did not have even Level 1 NCEA (14% for Europeans). At the higher end only 17.6% of Maori are currently leaving with University Entrance. For Europeans it is 41.2% and Asian 60.2%.

Only 63.6% of Maori youth stay at school until they are 17. For non-Maori it is 79%.

In term 3 of 2024 a mere 51% of students fully attended school. For Maori it was a tragic 37.5%.

Post-school, just in Auckland, 23.5% of Maori under 24 years old are not in employment, education or training (i.e. they are NEETS). It is 12.2% for the general population.

The need for change is obvious but is there true political will? At present we are most certainly not aiming for the stars.