18 May 2020

Calls for open university entrance - lockdown highlights inequities in education

From Nine To Noon, 9:05 am on 18 May 2020
Students at Pacific Advance Secondary School. Note only use identifying pictures for stories about PASS - only non-identifiying pictures may be reused.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

School is back today for one million students after nearly eight weeks at  home, and new research shines reveals the impact of the lockdown particularly on Māori and Pasifika students.

From Evaluation Associates, education researcher Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch surveyed Māori  and Pasifika families about their experiences with online learning during levels three and four. Respondents spoke of lockdown magnifying their experience of feeling overwhelmed and left behind.

We also hear from Greymouth High School Principal  Andy England and Ragne Maxwell, Principal of Porirua College, whose roll is predominantly made up of Pasifika and Māori  students.