Educational inequities for marginalized students in New Zealand

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Human Rights, Indigenous people

New Zealand (known by its Māori name Aotearoa, which translates to “land of the long white cloud”) prides itself on values of equality and fairness, yet significant inequities persist within its education system, particularly for Māori (the country’s indigenous population) and Pasifika (South Pacific Islanders and their descendants) students (Jiaheng, 2024). Despite the overall high performance of New Zealand’s education system, these groups face systemic barriers, resulting in disparities in achievement, opportunities, and long-term outcomes.

The current state of educational inequity

Māori and Pasifika students have been identified as groups of students who have been historically underserved in New Zealand’s education system (Channing, 2024). A 2023 Census found Māori and Pasifika peoples represent 26.7% of New Zealand’s population (Census, 2023). By 2040, Māori and Pasifika students are projected to comprise the majority of primary school students. Yet, they consistently underperform compared to their Pākehā (European) and Asian peers.

Recent statistics highlight this disproportionate educative performance. In 2023, only a third of Māori and Pasifika students attended school regularly, compared to half of Pākehā students and 59% of Asian students (Gerritsen, 2023). Furthermore, Māori students are 1.36 times more likely to leave school without University Entrance compared to European students. University Entrance non-attainment rates are alarmingly high: 70% for Pasifika students and 78% for Māori, compared to just 25% for Asian students.

These disparities are compounded by socioeconomic challenges, with Māori and Pasifika families experiencing higher rates of poverty. This economic disadvantage is strongly correlated with lower academic achievement, limiting access to resources like technology, extracurricular activities, and tutoring.

Historical roots of educational inequity

The roots of these inequities lie in the country’s colonial history (Calman, 2012). Following British colonization, Māori endured widespread land confiscation, cultural suppression, and systemic exclusion from economic opportunities. These injustices disrupted Māori communities and continue to shape disparities in health, wealth, and education. Pasifika communities, who migrated to New Zealand in the mid-20th century for labor opportunities, also faced discrimination and targeted immigration policies.

Education served as a tool for cultural suppression rather than empowerment during colonial times. Native Schools established in the 19th century prioritized English and European customs, systematically marginalizing te reo Māori (the Māori language) and traditional knowledge systems. This legacy created mistrust in the education system and left Māori culture underrepresented in mainstream schooling systems. 

In 2018, New Zealand was outed as having one of the least equitable education systems in the developed world (UNICEF, 2018). A report by UNICEF, entitled An Unfair Start: Inequality in children’s education in rich countries, highlighted that Māori and Pacific children were less likely to receive the same opportunities as Pākehā and Asian children as they were disproportionately affected by financial and material hardship, and a system that didn’t meet their needs.

Progress through Māori-medium education

In response to these historical inequities, Māori-medium education emerged as a pathway to preserve and promote Māori culture, language, and values. Initiatives such as Kura Kaupapa Māori schools, established under the Māori Education Act 1989, offer education in te reo Māori and follow a curriculum grounded in Māori principles (Calman, 2012). These schools aim to nurture bilingual and bicultural students with strong connections to their heritage.

Data suggests that Māori students in these culturally supportive environments outperform their peers in mainstream schools (Green & Schulze, 2019). They achieve higher literacy levels, excel in the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), and are more likely to pursue tertiary education or meaningful employment. Moreover, the resurgence of Te Kōhanga Reo (Māori language preschools) and Kura Kaupapa Māori has contributed to a revival of Māori language and culture, making them more visible and valued in contemporary New Zealand society.

However, challenges persist. Māori-medium schools remain underfunded compared to their mainstream counterparts, and access is limited, particularly in rural areas (Bolton, 2017). The shortage of qualified teachers fluent in te reo Māori further hampers the expansion of these schools, restricting opportunities for many Māori families.

Ongoing challenges in the education system

While New Zealand’s education system has taken steps to address inequities, structural and systemic issues continue to disadvantage Māori and Pasifika students:

  • The competitive structure of New Zealand’s education system fosters ethnic and socioeconomic segregation. Wealthier, well-resourced schools attract Pākehā students, while underfunded schools serve less affluent communities.
  • Many Māori and Pasifika students report experiencing bullying and racism in schools. The Education Matters to Me report from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner highlighted that many students feel their culture is undervalued or misunderstood by educators and peers.
  • Despite efforts to incorporate Māori culture into mainstream education, many schools fail to adequately reflect Māori values, traditions, or history. This cultural disconnect can lead to disengagement and lower academic achievement for Māori students.
  • Māori-medium schools struggle with funding disparities, which impact their ability to maintain infrastructure, hire qualified teachers, and provide educational materials.
  • A lack of fluent te reo Māori-speaking teachers limits the quality and availability of Māori-medium education, constraining opportunities for students in these programs.

Government initiatives and investments

Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child has the right to an education that should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities in addition to teaching them to understand their own rights, and to respect other people’s rights, cultures and differences (United Nations General Assembly, 1989). Furthermore, the New Zealand government recognizes its Treaty of Waitangi obligations to ensure equitable education for Māori (Treaty of Waitangi, 1840). Recent efforts reflect a growing commitment to addressing these disparities:

  • The New Zealand Government allocated $4 million of the 2024 Budget  to provide support for Māori education. (Gabel, 2024).
  • Kōhanga reo received an annual funding boost of 57%, increasing their total funding to $8.3 million (Ministry of Education, 2024).
  • Additional investments focus on recruiting and training Māori-speaking educators and providing professional development to mainstream teachers to reduce biases and improve cultural competence.

While these investments are significant, ongoing evaluations and community feedback emphasize the need for sustained efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and create a more equitable education system.

Actionable steps to support marginalized students in New Zealand

Achieving educational equity for Māori and Pasifika students requires a multifaceted approach. Key recommendations include (Bolton, 2017):

  1. Build more Māori-medium schools in underserved areas, particularly rural regions, and strengthen pathways from Māori-medium education to tertiary institutions.
  2. Ensure parity in funding for Māori-medium schools to support infrastructure, technology, and extracurricular programs. Allocate resources to develop high-quality, culturally appropriate teaching materials.
  3. Establish scholarships, mentoring programs, and financial incentives to encourage more Māori to train as teachers. Address shortages by supporting ongoing professional development for educators in both Māori-medium and mainstream schools.
  4. Introduce te reo Māori as a compulsory subject and incorporate Māori perspectives, history, and customs into the national curriculum. Mandatory anti-racism training for educators and administrators can address biases in the classroom.
  5. Implement measures such as free school meals, transport subsidies, and access to healthcare services. These initiatives can mitigate the impact of poverty on educational outcomes.
  6. Monitor and report progress toward equity, ensuring accountability from the Ministry of Education. Collaborate with communities, organizations, and businesses to provide mentorship and resources for Māori and Pasifika students.

Equity in education is not just a moral imperative but a legal and social one. By embracing culturally responsive practices, addressing systemic inequities, and prioritizing fairness in resource allocation, New Zealand can create an education system that enables all students to thrive. Māori and Pasifika students have a right to high-quality education that honors their culture and equips them for success, supporting a future where opportunities are truly equal for all.

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Written by Kathleen Tereposky (a non-Indigenous author living on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin People)

Bibliography:

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Channing, Chelsea. (2024). Don’t label Māori students as ‘priority learners’, it’s harmful: expert. Retrieved from Education HQ at https://educationhq.com/news/dont-label-maori-students-as-priority-learners-its-harmful-expert-169585/, accessed on December 30, 2024. 

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