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February 04, 2016
Outbreak of educational success in and around Kawerau
Waatea Team
Posted On February 4, 2016
Education Minister Hekia Parata says the new Tarawera High School has become the beating heart of the Kawerau community.
The merger of the former Kawerau intermediate and Kawerau college into a single educational facility three years ago caused an uproar in the eastern bay of Plenty town, but Ms Parata says students are now staying around rather than bussing to schools in Edgecumbe or Whakatane.
She says principal Helen Tuhoro and her team have raised achievement levels.
"I think about 37 per cent of a third of all their kids were getting NCEA One and she tells me that the 2015 results are up in the 80 per cent achievement level. They're doing what schools all around the country we want them to do and they are growing achievements. There's just been an absolute outbreak of educational success in and around Kawerau," she says.
Hekia Parata says the powhiri she got at the opening of the new $16 million school complex last week was the most impressive she has yet received from a school, showing the strength of culture.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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