August 25, 2016
Whakaue educator defends COOL schools
A Rotorua-based Maori educator says people are getting the wrong end of the stick about a plan to accredit providers on online learning.
Roana Bennett from Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho Ake Trust says the education amendment bill, which includes provision for the new communities of online learning or COOLs, is an opportunity for the sort of step change that Maori education needs.
She says while pass rates have increased in recent years, almost 30 percent of Maori still leave the school system without basic qualifications.
Some young Maori are already benefiting from online learning, such as a group Te Taumata is helping take credits through the Correspondence School Te Kura.
"It’s so rewarding seeing them engage seeing them experience sucess, seeing them wanting to come back to learn. In a short period of time we've raised their credits from 0 – 40 credits so it's a really good start for them. It could well be they will scaffold back tino the tradition schooling setting or it could well be they will finish their education using just solely online learning. The point is they have the choice, says Roana Bennett from Ngati Whakaue
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