Tertiary Performance and Accountability

Education – the future of our Pacific people 

Having a highly skilled and educated Pasifika population emerging into the workforce offers huge possibilities for Auckland’s, and therefore New Zealand’s, economy. 

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs predicts that 12 per cent of potential workers in the 15 – 39 age group will be made up of Pasifika people by 2026. 

The majority of this group are predicted to be living in Auckland, which means that there are great opportunities for the region if the potential of this future workforce is realised in skills and education, and contribution to Auckland’s productivity. 

In May 2010, the Dominion Post printed an article that summed up the challenges and opportunities for New Zealand in the next two decades, including some very relevant social commentary: 

“If Maori and Pasifika don’t succeed in the next 20 years, New Zealand will fail as a nation...It’s that simple.”  - Business New Zealand Chief Executive Phil O’reilly, Dominion Post, Saturday May 08, 2010

“It hurts me all the time that every cleaner that comes in is a Pacific Islander. I don’t want that. I’m sick of that...I’m never going to be like that.”  - Tristram Lupo-Samoa Dominion Post, Saturday May 08, 2010

“Most [Pacific] parents came here for education and employment. They wanted to get a job and settle down and get ahead. The next part is to see them running their own businesses.” - Pacific Business Trust Chairman Hamish Crookes, Dominion Post, Saturday May 08, 2010

Read the full Dominion Post article here. 

 

The Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy and TEC performance measures

Having identified the demographics and the national economic need, this Government has laid out the following priorities for the tertiary sector in its Tertiary Education Strategy: 

  • More learners  under 25 at all tertiary providers 
  • More Maori learners in higher level education (level four and above) at all provider types
  • More Pacific learners in higher level education (level four and above) at all provider types
To give effect to the aims of the Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy, the TEC has identified four key measures of tertiary performance:
Percentage of students who have: 
  1. Completed their course at each level
  2. Completed their qualification at each level
  3. Progressed to higher study
  4. Been retained in study at each level
BEST is in the unique position of already meeting the Government’s objectives for Pacific people in tertiary education – BEST has New Zealand’s largest number of Pacific people studying and succeeding at at levels four, five and six.
Our performance results for our students are considerably higher than other tertiary providers, and our graduates go on to secure skilled employment and/or to higher study.

BEST applauds the publication of educational performance 

BEST is very excited that the Government wants to ensure tertiary providers are transparent and accountable for student achievement.

We are also very supportive of the Government’s desire to see more Pacific and Maori learners in achieving and progressing to higher education.

Read our press statement here.

Read BEST Director Anita Finnigan’s opinion piece on the Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy here.