New Zealand aspires to become a knowledge-based economy, but the reality is that many leave school without a qualification.

 


Starpath is dedicated to transforming outcomes for those under-represented in higher education

To put that in context, census data shows that later this century more than half of NZ’s population will be of Maori or Pacific

Island ancestry – but current figures show one in three Maori, and one in four Pacific students fail to get any NCEA qualifications.

Their plight is typical of many in low-decile schools. Why? And what can be done? Auckland University’s Starpath project is looking for answers in a five-year study identifying “choke-points” where students falter.

Project Director, Associate Professor Elizabeth McKinley, says Starpath will analyse 20 years’ worth of data over five years,

including NCEA results and internal assessment material, looking for evidence of where and why students fail.

So far it has found the problem stretches right into tertiary level. Even when students from low-decile schools make it to

polytechs or universities, achievements don’t match students from high-decile schools.

“Students from low-decile schools, and Maori and Pacific students, are overwhelmingly enrolled in diplomas and certificates, rather than degree programmes in tertiary education,” Associate Prof McKinley says. “Average completion rates are lower, while student loan debts are higher.”

Starpath is working with three Auckland secondary schools, with MIT and with Auckland University to find crucial transition points at which students either step up to the next level, or fail to progress. It aims to develop a toolkit to help schools nationwide overcome obstacles and improve results.

“Every child should have the chance to achieve their potential,”says Associate Prof McKinley. “Starpath is dedicated to bringing

about a dramatic transformation in educational and economic outcomes for those currently under-represented in higher

education.”

The Trust’s grant, paid over five years, allows Starpath to access matching Government funding under the Partnership

for Excellence scheme, which identified Starpath as a key to building world-class tertiary education capability.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has praised Starpath’s focus “squarely on issues of access, participation and success”. The

Trust sees this innovative project as a way of achieving part of our core vision – reducing inequality in our region.

www.starpath.auckland.ac.nz

  • In 2007 ASB Community Trust granted the Starpath project $1.55 million.