Maori Education

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 10

Maori Education

A real improvement in Maori education is not just a matter of social and economic equality for its own sake. The facts are that Maori children appear to have intellectual capacities similar to those of other New Zealand children.but that their progress is retarded and almost invariably stops short of the attainment of other pupils. Additional encouragement and opportunity for young Maoris would be well worth while in the interests of equality. But the national Interest is involved, too, because New Zealand cannot afford to let any talent remain unused. It cannot afford to have a growing number of citizens destined by educational deficiencies to swell the pool of unskilled labour at a time when the demand for technical and professional skills is increasing and the demand for unskilled or untrained labour is declining. Information given to the New Zealand Maori Council suggests that, in spite of the lower percentage of School Certificate passes among Maori children last year, some progress is being made. More Maori children are attending secondary schools and more are attempting the School Certificate examination. However, the performance of Maoris at the higher levels, even in the upper sixth forms, is far from satisfactory. It is at this level that most young persons should become aware of the value of attainment to themselves, their families, and their community. They must be impressed with the fact that additional effort will be amply repaid later. Though something can be achieved in school, this realisation depends largely on influences outside the classroom—on parents, employers, and on society generally. That is why the Maori Education Foundation, a considerable expression by the State and individuals of faith in the capacity and worth of the Maori pupil, is valuable, quite apart from the direct financial assistance it can give. It will be disappointing for the Maori people, and socially and economically serious for the whole country, if the foundation's work is not soon reflected in an improvement on the statistics Mr J. H. Grace gave to the Maori Council.