The latest ERO report on schooling on the East Coast shows that effective professional leadership is bringing about changes for students on the East Coast, and that the involvement of iwi, whānau, boards of trustees, teachers and local communities is making a big difference to the education of their children.
“This is a tremendous result, which reflects hard work in schools and kura over several years, and the commitment of East Coast educators, iwi and whānau to giving their children a good start in life,” said Dr Graham Stoop, the Chief Review Officer.
“These schools have used the flexibility in The New Zealand Curriculum to review and design their local curricula to reflect local history and Māori ancestry. Students learn through a curriculum that reflects their identity, culture and language. Whānau are actively involved in their schools and are proud of them.”
The Education Review Office has reported on East Coast schools and kura kaupapa Māori as a cluster over the past 15 years.
In 1997 the Education Review Office (ERO) found that the quality of schooling for children in schools and kura kaupapa Māori on the East Coast was not high enough.
ERO analysed the individual reviews of East Coast schools in 2001 and again in 2002, and was able to report steady progress. By 2002, 17 of the 19 schools were able to be placed on ERO’s regular three-yearly review cycle.
In 2010 ERO evaluated all the schools and kura again as a cluster and found three of the now 18 to be performing exceptionally well (and therefore given a four-to-five year review return timing), and only three needing extra help to improve their students’ education.
ERO recommends that Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, the Ministry of Education, and schools and kura, plan together a strategic professional teaching programme that includes giving leaders and teachers opportunities to share local good practice and to mentor and support each other.
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The report is on ERO’s website
For more information please contact Jenny Clark, National Manager Public Affairs, Education Review Office: jenny.clark@ero.govt.nz; phone: 0-4-474 1228