March 03, 2013
Leadership Academy celebrates NCEA pass rate
Whangarei's He Puna Marama Trust is celebrating a hundred percent pass rate in NCEA level one and two for all the boys in its Leadership Academy of A Company.
That compares with an 81 percent NCEA failure rate for Māori boys in Whangarei when the academy was conceived five years ago.
Operations manager Ken Tipene says whānau from Cape Reinga to the Bombay Hills are responding the academy's kaupapa of walking in the footsteps of the 28th Māori Battalion.
The 43 boys start their day with a wake-up call at 6am, and there are extra lessons and activities when they are not in school.
“They go to their own schools in Whangarei and then in the evening there are more programmes. They don’t finish until 9pm in the evening. It’s a long day, it’s full of work, it suits some boys and it doesn’t suit others. Those that enjoy structure and enjoy routine seem to thrive in it.
Ken Tipene says three of the first intakes have already gone off to university.
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