Government delays kura Māori truancy reporting policy

Claudette Hauiti David Seymour | Government delays kura Māori truancy reporting policy

Download Audio

The government is delaying mandatory truancy reporting for Kura Māori as it seeks to align with tikanga and kaupapa values under the new system.

A recent Education Review Office (ERO) report shows 80,000 students were chronically absent in term two, with 1 in 10 missing over 30% of class time—double the rate from a decade ago.

Associate Minister of Education David Seymour says while Kura Māori demonstrate high achievement levels, there is disagreement over what constitutes attendance.

“If you go to perform in, say, Matatini, would that be counted as present? Yes, it would. Just as if you went to play for your First XV, it would be counted as present. If you go as a supporter, would that be counted as present? Well, it might be. But if you were a supporter of your First XV, would you be counted as at school if you missed school to go and follow them to another city to watch them play? There’s people on both sides of that argument, inside and outside kura kaupapa,” says Seymour.

The ERO is working with Kura Māori to establish a framework and will report back in six months.

RELATED NEWS

Ōpōtiki mayor targets poverty reduction Pacific in eye of climate change storm People power in paua protest