Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Closer watch on progress of Maori pupils

Updated at 8:21 pm on 14 August 2012

The state education sector is to be more closely monitored to ensure young Maori are being given every opportunity to succeed.

The Auditor-General is to do an annual performance report over the next five years, saying it's well known that Maori students don't get enough support to achieve in class.

The inquiry will focus on how well the education system is responding to Maori students.

Officials say that by 2030 a third of New Zealand's students will be Maori.

This means that the country's future is inextricably linked with the achievement levels of those students, and at the moment too many Maori pupils are leaving school earlier than other children.

Part of the work will look at how well the Ministry of Education is delivering its Maori education strategy, Ka Hikitia.

Schools, pre-schools, tertiary institutions and Government agencies are the among the organisations that will be examined.

The Auditor General's staff say it's in the interests of all New Zealanders that rangatahi (youth) thrive academically, socially, and culturally.

The Auditor-General has formed a Maori advisory group to help with the review.

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