May 01, 2013
Streaming leaves Maori students behind
A Canterbury University researcher is warning that ability streaming in schools is leaving Māori and Pasifika students worse off.
Professor Gary Hornby says the practice of clustering students based on their ability was discredited as far back as the 1970s, but his study of Canterbury intermediate and secondary schools shows it is creeping back in.
He says the Education Ministry is encouraging more evidence-based practices, and that’s an area where the evidence is clear.
“Ability grouping between classes does not improve overall academic achievement and particular negative consequence from some groups including children ethnic minorities. It might favour the few that is lucky to get into the higher ability groups but at the expense of the other children. It does have a particular concern on Māori and Pasifika,” he says.
Professor Hornby says the lower expectations of those who miss out on the top streams and it creates problems with lack of confidence and student behaviour.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd