Tertiary Education Advisory Commission Shaping the Funding Framework 15/17

Responsiveness to Maori and Pacific Peoples

Reducing disparities and building capability and capacity in tertiary
education for Maori and Pacific learners is a crucial element in any attempt to
improve equity in the system. This is particularly important, as the populations
of both Maori and Pacific peoples are expected to continue to grow at a faster
rate than the rest of the New Zealand population for the foreseeable future.
While the participation of Maori and Pacific peoples at all levels of tertiary
education needs to improve in line with population growth, it will also be
important to eliminate disparities in educational achievement between these
groups and the rest of the New Zealand population.

The Commission recommends that tertiary education providers should be
required to specify in their charters and profiles the initiatives and
performance indicators that they will use to develop their capability and
capacity to support Maori and Pacific learners and to report on these measures.
In assessing the desirability of a programme or an activity, the TEC should
consider what contribution that programme or activity makes to enhancing
participation and achievement for Maori and Pacific learners. To ensure
accountability, the Commission recommends that a proportion of tuition funding
be withheld from those providers that are unable to demonstrate that they are
meeting the needs of the Maori and Pacific learners within their enrolment
catchment areas.

The Commission believes that it is important to provide support for
Matauranga Maori, for the study of Te Reo Maori, and for awareness of Tikanga
Maori and Kaupapa Maori. Consequently, it recommends that if no provider
demonstrates a high quality of research performance in relation to Maori studies
and Treaty issues, then priority should be given to the development of a Model A
Centre/Network of Research Excellence specialising in Maori issues. The
Commission recommends that the TEC give priority to nurturing the research
capacity of Pacific peoples, at least until one or more providers can
demonstrate high-quality research in this area. Furthermore, the Commission
recommends that the government give priority to developing a new institutional
form specific to Pacific peoples in the tertiary education system. The Ministry
of Pacific Island Affairs and the Ministry of Education should work
collaboratively on this matter.

The Commission recommends that, in the short-term, the current Maori and
Pacific Special Supplementary Grants (SSGs) funding be re-allocated and be
ring-fenced within the SDF for equity purposes. This would reduce transaction
costs and improve accountability.

The Commission is aware of the existence of low levels of adult literacy in
Maori and Pacific communities. In recognition of this, and in accordance with
the intention to uncap foundation education and Industry Training programmes,
priority should be given to developing capacity within the tertiary education
system to support the literacy and education needs of Maori and Pacific peoples.