Media release 30 May 2012
Samoan NCEA Book Launched During Samoan Language Week
The Samoan translation of a book to help students and parents better understand NCEA has been launched during Samoan
language week.
Malamalama i le NCEA was officially launched by the Minister of Education and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hekia Parata at Porirua
College on Monday night. It is a Samoan translation of Understanding NCEA: A relatively short and very useful guide for secondary school students and their parents, which was published by NZCER Press in 2011.
The Minister said the book was a taonga worthy of celebration during Samoan language week. It provided students and
families with accessible information and help with navigating the qualifications system.
The book was written by Dr Irena Madjar and Professor Elizabeth McKinley of the Starpath Project at the University of
Auckland. The translation was done by Faimai Pisu Tuimauga. “We quickly learned that we needed to be able to talk to
parents in their own language if we are to have an impact on student achievement,” Professor McKinley said. “We chose to
translate the resource into Samoan language as it is the third most commonly spoken language in New Zealand and second
most common in Auckland.”
The book aims to guide students and their families through the complexities and flexibility of NCEA, as well as help
them avoid any potential pitfalls and plan a course of study. It will help families work out what questions they need to
ask of their children’s school as they progress through NCEA. The book features stories of students keen to pursue
different pathways, such as university study or an apprenticeship. These draw on the real experiences of students
interviewed by the authors.
New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) director Robyn Baker says the organisation is looking for partners
to help fund the printing and distribution of large numbers of the book so that it can be provided free of charge to
Samoan families. The book is available from NZCER at www.nzcer.org.nz
ENDS