‘No Improvement In Maori Scholarship’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 3

‘No Improvement In Maori Scholarship’

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 29. Scholastic attainments of the majority of Maori children had shown no marked improvement over the last nine years, Education Boards’ Association representatives on the National Maori Education Committee reported to the association today.

The representatives, Messrs W. Smith (Hawke’s Bay), W. J. Inskip (South Auckland), and W. F. G. White (Kaikohe), said the numbers of Maori pupils had increased largely since 1955 when the committee was formed. But over the same period, examination achievements of the pupils had made no gains expressed in terms of percentage. The number of Maori pupils in the sixth form at public post-primary schools and secondary departments of district high schools as at July 1, 1963, was 129. Only 15 of these had passed the University Entrance examination. “The statistics reveal there are a total of 9112 Maori pupils in all forms, and it is somewhat disturbing that less than .15 per cent of all Maori children entering post-prim-ary schools attain University Entrance," said the report. “The figures are all the more disturbing when it is considered that more liberal scholarship distribution is made to Maori pupils than to European pupils, and the assistance from the Maori Education Foundation should now be showing greater results in educational achievement.” The association representa-

tives said greater influence was urgently required in the early stages of the Maori children’s lives. This influence should extend back to pre-school age. The establishment of preschool activities was making a definite contribution, but to be really effective it needed to be extended considerably. The representatives also recommended that the teaching of Maori must be secondary to the teaching of English. Home Conditions They suggested the association press the Government to provide a greater number cf welfare officers to work with the Maoris and influence them to improve home conditions. They said the present number of Maori welfare officers was too few and their influence on children and parents was limited by other activities, such as court work.