A Pasifika strategy for NZQA

Work is underway on NZQA's first Pasifika Strategy.

The NZQA Board agreed in July the Strategy will be developed and build on NZQA's Pasifika Action Plans, which have been in place since 2002.

Senior Policy Analyst Leilani Buchan says the Strategy will take a longer term view than the action plans, which are reported on annually.

The Strategy will be developed with other stakeholders and will be aligned with the Ministry of Education's Pasifika Education Plan, the Tertiary Education Commission's Pacific Peoples Strategy and the work of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. "This will enable useful collaboration and facilitate strategic opportunities inline with the education aspirations of Pasifika communities," she said.

Critical links already identified for the Strategy include enhancing relationships with Pasifika stakeholders, working with other education agencies and facilitating community initiatives and partnerships.

An internal Pasifika Steering Group has been formed to assist in the development of the Strategy. The Group enables perspectives from across NZQA's business units to inform the Strategy.

The current Pasifika Action Plan 2007/08 outlines three outcome areas:

• Qualifications – internationally recognised New Zealand qualifications that support the needs of Pasifika learners
• Provision – high quality provision to meet the needs of Pasifika learners
• Sector – a cohesive sector that supports lifelong learning for Pasifika learners.

A draft of the Strategy will be discussed at the Ministry of Education's Pasifika Advisory Group fono in April 2008. The final strategy, incorporating feedback, is expected to be presented to the NZQA Board late in 2008.