Giving a new spin to the old school idea

Rotorua-based co-ordinators for a new pilot programme to help Maori and Pasifika youth are Rewa Ututaonga (left) and Thia Priestly. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua and Taupo Maori and Pasifika youth finding it hard to stay at school to get worthy qualifications are being offered a new opportunity.

Count Me In is a project set up by the Ministry of Education to help Maori and Pasifika people aged 16 to 18 who have left school without NCEA Level 2 or equivalent qualifications.

Two Rotorua-based co-ordinators are working on the local project for the Waiariki district (covering Maketu to Turangi). The co-ordinators are Rewa Ututaonga and Thia Priestly.

The project is also being rolled out by the Ministry of Education in Northland, Auckland and Waikato. The project, which was only running until January 2017, would help guide young people through a process including looking at what qualification credits they had, exploring what careers or jobs they wanted, figuring out what qualifications they needed for the career or job they wanted, finding out the options they had to get qualified for their desired jobs starting with Level 2 qualifications and finally when they've made an informed choice, help them enrol in and complete their studies.

Count Me In involves agencies, iwi and employers working together, including the police, youth and district courts, Child Youth and Family, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of Social Development and Te Wananga O Aotearoa.

Mrs Ututaonga said extra effort was needed to lift Maori and Pasifika outcomes. In 2013, the number of Maori and Pasifika young people gaining NCEA or comparable Level 2 qualification was well below the national average.

The programme is free for participants.

"Depending on what each participant's level of achievement is, we will be encouraging them to participate in Youth Guarantee initiatives which includes fees-free providers. To be honest, we very much doubt any of these youth would want to consider returning to mainstream education. There are varied reasons for this age group dropping out of school.

"Some of these include transiency, bullying, lack of support from caregivers/whanau, educational problems, conduct and non engagement at school."

Thia Priestly said she was involved in the project because she wanted to see young people progress. "Particularly the ones who are uncertain of their future and are uncertain how to go about progressing it. It's about supporting them and their whanau as well ... To have all that information and be able to share it in a marae setting where they can feel safe is a bonus I think."

The Rotorua-based co-ordinators were trying to get as many young people on board as possible, Mrs Ututaonga said.

"We hope to have at least 70 youth working with us on this project by the middle of 2016."

She said they hoped to get youth referrals from supporting agencies also. "As well as this, we are putting up notices on community notice boards, youth centres, basically anywhere youth frequent."

Mrs Ututaonga was excited about the future prospects of Maori and Pasifika youth who get involved with Count Me In.

"This project is about working on something positive for our rangatahi and working with them to find ways to improve their lives."

-Anyone wanting more information should call Mrs Ututaonga on (027) 251 8830.

Count Me In

* Targets Maori and Pasifika youth aged 16 to 18
* Works with iwi and other agencies
* Helps young people achieve qualifications outside of school
* Sets out career goals and career paths for young people
* Pilot programme only available until January 2017