Educational inequities and Tagata o le Moana | Pacific peoples
28.9% of all Pacific children live in households experiencing material hardship. (Stats NZ, 2023)
33.8% of Pacific learners regularly attended school in 2023. (Ministry of Education, 2023)
24% of Pacific learners in year 8 are achieving at or above curriculum levels for maths. (Ministry of Education, 2020)
51% of Pacific school leavers in 2019 did not enrol in any tertiary study in 2020. (Ministry of Education, 2020)
Pacific educator
10 out of 100 learners in Aotearoa have
Tagata o le Moana whakapapa.
Realising education equity for Tagata o le Moana | Pacific peoples
The experiences of Pacific educators from Sāmoa, Tonga, Tahiti and Fiji, and analysis of current findings highlight the gaps in educational equity for Tagata o le Moana – Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most diverse tauiwi group of tāngata Tiriti.
Key themes arising from the narratives address equity and access, including relevant curricula, clear career pathways and transitions; financial hardship; and representation and leadership. There is a need for culturally-relevant perspectives, support systems and teaching practices; policy and advocacy.
Research-informed policy for and by Pacific peoples is required to investigate and resolve the complex issues represented by the themes below.
