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The ASB Community Trust is marking the fifth anniversary of its ambitious attempt to raise Maori and Pacific educational achievement.
Since 2009 the trust has invested $20 million in 10 initiatives across Auckland and Northland.
Chief Executive Jennifer Gill says the results are starting to come through.
The Mutukaroa programme developed at decile two Sylvia Park school by principal Barbara Alaalatoa shows parents how to support their children’s learning in their first three years at school.
In 2009 just 57 percent of year three students at the school reached national norms for reading comprehension
Achievement rates are now heading towards 100 percent.
Ms Gill says the Mutukaroa approach has been picked up by the Ministry of Education and will be rolled out to 100 schools across New Zealand.
She says the trust's investments are guided by the vision of the project’s reference group that "Maa taatou ano taatou e korero" or "we speak for ourselves", that the community holds the solutions to its own problems.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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