July 08, 2015
Rich listers back education innovation
Rich listers' philanthropic organisation the NEXT Foundation is backing a Rototua initiative to boost educational outcomes in all the region’s schools and kura.
Nga Pumanawa e Waru will combine collaborative learning methods with digital learning, integrated with strong family, whanau and community engagement.
Excel Rotorua Education Trust executive chair Leith Comer says it will support principals and teachers leading change in their schools, engage with community groups and iwi and involve whanau in children’s learning.
Partnerships with Noel Leeming, Vodafone, Apple, Samsung and Hewlett Packard will provide schools and the community with discounted rates for devices and access to data networks.
NEXT Foundation chair Chris Liddell says the disparity in learning outcomes of children in lower decile school communities is difficult to resolve, but such initiatives have the potential to address education equity.
The foundation is also backing extension of the similar Manaiakalani programme, which is credited with boosting NCEA level 2 success rates at Tamaki College from 26 percent to more than 70 percent in three years, as well as improving student engagement levels and writing skills at primary schools in the cluster.
It will be extended to five clusters of predominantly decile 1 and 2 schools in Hornby in Christchurch, the West Coast of the South Island, Papakura and Mt Roskill in Auckland, and Kaikohe in Northland.
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