Give Maori students free pass into varsity, urges Dr Pita Sharples

Give Maori students free pass into varsity, urges Sharples
NZ Herald, Wednesday Jun 17, 2009

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples wants universities to consider open entry for Maori students. He said in a speech last night Maori students had the lowest rate of progression from school to tertiary education of any ethnic group. "We have seen how the dice are loaded against Maori, right through the school system," Dr Sharples said.
"That is not any reflection on the academic potential of our young people. Reserved places for Maori have proven the ability of Maori students to rise to the challenge if they are given the opportunity." Dr Sharples, an associate minister of education, was speaking at a function at Wellington's Victoria University. He suggested a "quantum leap" in Maori achievement at tertiary level could be achieved if students were given open entry.
Dr Sharples said that in 2007 only 63 per cent of young Maori men and 67 per cent of young Maori women left school with at least NCEA level one. He said the rate for Pakeha was more than 20 percentage points higher - 83 per cent of young men and 89 per cent of young women.
"Success at school is the strongest predictor of success after the first year of university, and success in the first year is the strongest predictor of continuing at university, passing courses, and completing a degree."
- NZPA

new: Native Studies Undergraduate Journal

CALL FOR PAPERS
Native Studies Undergraduate Journal

The Native Studies Department of the University of Sudbury is pleased to announce a call for papers for its Native Studies Undergraduate Journal. Submissions will be accepted from all undergraduate students writing in the area of Native Studies and presently enrolled in courses at the University of Sudbury, Laurentian, Huntington, and Thorneloe universities. As part of this inaugural issue we will accept papers on a variety of topics ranging from questions of Aboriginal governance and Indigenous knowledge to issues relating to Aboriginal women, health and contemporary cultural expression.

The Native Studies Undergraduate Journal will accept articles between 3000 to 5000 words in length. Sources will be cited in accordance with APA style.

Deadline for Submission: June 30, 2009.

Please send correspondence to: Kfitzmaurice@usudbury.ca


APPEL À CONTRIBUTION D’ARTICLES
au Native Studies Undergraduate Journal

Le Département des études amérindiennes de l’Université de Sudbury est heureux d’annoncer une invitation à présenter des articles pour fins de publication dans sa revue, Native Studies Undergraduate Journal. Les articles seront acceptés de tous les étudiants de 1er cycle écrivant dans le domaine des études amérindiennes et qui sont présentement inscrits aux cours offerts à l’Université de Sudbury, ou aux universités Laurentienne, Huntington et Thorneloe. Dans le cadre de ce numéro inaugural, nous accepterons des articles qui traitent des questions de gouvernance autochtone et des connaissances indigènes, ainsi que des articles qui portent sur des sujets relatifs aux femmes autochtones, à la santé et à l’expression culturelle contemporaine.

La Native Studies Undergraduate Journal acceptera des articles qui comptent entre 3 000 et 5 000 mots. Les sources seront citées conformément au style de l’Association américaine de psychologie (American Psychological Association – APA).

Date d’échéance de soumission : le 30 juin 2009.

SVP faire parvenir toute correspondance à : kfitzmaurice@usudbury.ca

National Maori Doctoral Student Conference 2009

National Maori Doctoral Student Conference 2009

Puketeraki Marae

October 8, 2009 – October 11, 2009

Welcome to the annual Māori and Indigenous Doctoral Student Conference. This year the conference is being hosted by MAI ki Ōtākou. The conference is being held at the Puketeraki Marae of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, in Karitane, Otago.

The theme for the conference is Te Mahi ki te Hāpori - Working with communities.

We welcome Māori and Indigenous doctoral students to submit abstracts and full papers for this conference. Each presentation will be 10 minutes in length with 5 minutes for questions.

Students will present within their MAI site, and the order of speakers will be organised by each MAI site co-ordinator.

To register for this conference please click here.

To submit an abstract or full paper please click here.