Inequities in the attainment of University Entrance (UE) are a persistent issue in Aotearoa New Zealand. These inequities disproportionately affect ākonga Māori and Pacific students, limiting their opportunities immediately after finishing school, and potentially having long-term impacts on further study pathways and career choices. Guided by mātāpono Māori and Pacific values, a team of Māori, Pacific, and Pākehā researchers worked with six schools at which the UE attainment of ākonga Māori and Pacific students was at least 10% higher than their EQI band average. The goal was to identify the ways in which these schools supported ākonga Māori and Pacific students to attain UE. Without exception, these schools were using achievement data to set targets and identify and respond to student needs. Yet this was just one of a suite of approaches that they employed. In this workshop you can hear more about what these six schools were doing to improve equity.
Esther Smaill (Tangata Tiriti) is a kairangahau matua |senior researcher at NZCER. She is committed to honouring the principles of Te Tīriti o Waitangi, and this commitment underpins and drives her rangahau. Esther’s research interests include aromatawai, assessment for learning, teacher professional learning, and the revitalisation of te reo Māori. Esther is a registered primary school teacher and has taught in both Tāmaki-makau-rau and Ōtepoti.
Find Esther’s presentation slides here: Esther Smaill Poipoia Kia Puāwai NZAI 2025
