Few bridge culture gap

A photo in last year's Otahuhu College magazine, taken in 1947, shows the pupils lined up on the field performing their haka-like warcry -- a climax to the house parade. All the faces are white.

Today, 58 per cent of the school's 1200 pupils are Pacific Islanders.

Like Maori, Pacific Island youngsters dominate the statistics on under-achievement in secondary school.

They stay on longer than any other ethnic group -- 24 per cent are still in school at aged 18 -- but their trouble is that they do not pass exams in the same numbers, dominating in the D and E grades.

Exam candidates overall score four times as many high grades as Pacific Island candidates.

Ask this group of seventh-form students about education barriers, and their answers are unanimous.

First, their parents want them to be educated but do not understand the requirements of high school, such as having to study at home at night. Looking after younger children, cooking, working for money or fulfilling their duties for the church often consume all the teenagers' after-school time. They often feel caught between the demands of two cultures.

Fa'aoso Aneru says that is his biggest problem. "I don't understand when my parents say get a good education and better your future, but don't become like a Palagi. But those are Palagi things."

The second problem is having English as their second language.

Pacific Island children are also taught not to question authority, so they do not ask questions in class. When something goes wrong their parents do not front up at the school demanding action, because that would be disrespectful.

Head boy Timothy Funaki is one of the exceptions. He already has two bursary subjects and plans to be in medical school next year. He credits his success to his parents' support, something he knows others in his position lack.

Many Pacific Island parents, he says, "find the school intimidating and are daunted by the professionalism of the teachers. We need more parent support coming into the school."

Nationally, while Pacific Islanders make up 7 per cent of students, their parents comprise only 2 per cent of trustees.

As with Maori, giving Pacific Island parents power over a school through the trustee structure is not the same as empowering them.