Executive Summary

The Ministry of Education (the Ministry) has developed Pasifika Education Plans over the past 10 years to ensure a strong and continued focus on improving educational results for Pasifika children, students and young people. In 2009, Cabinet approved the Pasifika Education Plan 2009-2012 (Plan) which was revised to align with Government's education priorities for Pasifika students, which are to:

1. build strong learning foundations
2. lift Pasifika literacy and numeracy achievement
3. increase the number of Pasifika students achieving and leaving school with qualifications

A mid-term review of the current Plan, for the period November 2009 through to May 2011, shows that two thirds of the targets set for 2012 are likely to be met. Also of note:

• Pasifika participation in Early Childhood Education (ECE) has improved by 9.5% since 2009 and 24.9% since 2006 (largest increase compared to all ethnicities other than Asian)
• the number of Pasifika students leaving with NCEA Level 2 qualifications has increased from 45% to 66% between 2005 and 2009¹
• Pasifika students stay at school longer than all other groups (except Asian students)
• Pasifika students' take-up of Youth Guarantee is 20% of all young people participating.

Further action is required to address a number of areas:

• although Pasifika participation in ECE has increased more than any other ethnic group other than Asian, it is still the lowest participation rate
• significant disparities remain evident in literacy and numeracy achievement for Pasifika students at age 10
• the South Auckland attendance pilot identified that attendance levels of Pasifika students between the ages of 5-7 is a concern
• disparity in achievement levels between Pasifika and non-Pasifika students widen at higher qualification levels, restricting opportunities for Pasifika students to move into higher levels of education and compete for the best employment opportunities.

Actions are underway to accelerate improvement during the course of the current Plan. To ensure future success, I propose the next Pasifika Education Plan:

• set more ambitious targets informed by in-depth investigation, discussion, and comparative analysis about Pasifika and non-Pasifika achievement
• include further actions to drive continued improvement in literacy and numeracy achievement, and attainment of qualifications
• focus on attendance as a foundation for engagement in learning and achievement
• emphasise the importance of Pasifika identities, languages and cultures and working closely with Pasifika parents and families
• incorporate the full implementation of Youth Guarantee
• focus on skills essential to the future New Zealand workforce.

Footnote

1. 2010 NCEA ethnicity comparative data at time of review not available