Young students aiming high

Young students aiming high

Four 12 and 13 year old students from Titahi Bay North School are starting college this year having sat and passed NCEA Level 1 Maori. Sonny Ngatai, Amiria Sinclair, Justice Te Hau, and Roimata White have all started college this year well ahead of their peers. All four students are carrying on their Maori studies and intend to sit NCEA Level 2 Maori in their first year at college.

Titahi Bay North School is a unique school, offering classes in English and Te Reo Maori. Te Reo Maori is a major focus within the school, and all four students had been taught in Te Reo Maori.

In 2008, Titahi Bay North School found that students who had been taught in Te Reo Maori classes were well ahead of their Year 9 peers in Te Reo Maori. And so the idea was put forward, why can’t these students sit NCEA Level 1 Maori in their last year at primary school?

Principal Steven Caldwell thought this initiative would give the students a head start in their secondary school education and investigated whether it was possible. Early in 2009, the school reached an arrangement with the Correspondence School and the Ministry of Education and was granted the opportunity to teach NCEA Level 1 Maori to four Year 8 students.

When the students were asked if they would like to sit NCEA Level 1 Maori last year, all four jumped at the opportunity. Now all four students have jumped ahead of their peers and are expected to continue to excel in their Maori students.

Titahi Bay North School expects to continue offering this opportunity to their Year 8 students, and in 2010, three more students will study and sit NCEA Level 1 Maori.

Titahi Bay North School is a decile 2 full primary school teaching students from year 0 to year 8 with approximately 135 students.

ENDS

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