The increasing number of students from the Pacific Island communities is putting pressure on the education system, an expert has said.
Pacific Islands Affairs Ministry Chief Executive Dr Colin Tukuitonga said with 38% of the communities’ population less than 15 years old, the education system will experience more students in the coming years.
“Our education system is struggling to lift Pacific achievement. The issues involved range from participation in early childhood education to tertiary education including 20,000 Pacific children not currently in early childhood education,” he said, speaking at the inaugural National Forum for Pacific Members in Tertiary Education.
“We need to train 1300 Pacific teachers, since about two thirds of Pacific people do not have the literacy skills required to enable full participation in all aspects of society,” he added.
Representatives from polytechnics, universities and other organisations including Te Tari Puna o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Council for Educational Research and Campus Living Villages attended the Forum, held under the theme, ‘Speak up for Pacific education and recognition’.
Dr Tukuitonga identified leadership and strong targets as important elements of any strategy to make a difference in uplifting the Pacific community.
“We cannot expect different outcomes for Pacific people, including in tertiary education, by doing the same things that we have been doing,” he said.
Among the issues discussed at the Forum were ways and means of motivating Pacific members to contribute to the Tertiary Education Union and how the Union in turn can respond to issues identified by Pacific staff.
