Abstract:
Research conducted by Starpath (see Turner, 2007) has revealed that Māori and Pacific students attempt, on average, far fewer NCEA Level 3 standards than do their Pākehā and Asian counterparts. This fact is particularly striking in respect of standards from the “Approved List” of subjects. This phenomenon has a serious deleterious impact on the prospects for success of Māori and Pacific students in achieving entrance to university. The current study was initiated to investigate the possibility that part of the reason for the deficit in the number of standards attempted might be a lack of availability of standards.