Regional support reaches students

Curriculum Leader Mathematics Derek Smith uses video conferencing to communicate with students at Ngata Memorial College

Regional initiatives to provide increased support to TCS students in local communities are proving a success in the Central North region.

Three separate partnerships; at Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria, Rangitahi College in Murupara and at Kawhia Learning Centre are providing students with the support and resources they need to learn.

‘We know that students achieve more when they are supported in the community and so far the students are on-task, engaged and are working hard to gain credits,’ says Central North regional manager, Jen McCutcheon.

Fifteen dual students at Ngata Memorial College are learning NCEA level 2 and 3 mathematics via weekly video conferencing with their Wellington-based teacher. Students meet in a dedicated room at the school where they interact with their teacher via video camera, document camera and white board.

Jen says TCS was able to help fill a gap at the school and make sure the students didn’t miss out on learning.

‘It’s hard for schools to attract qualified teachers and when the school’s maths teacher left we were able to provide an easy solution and get the students learning.’

Meanwhile, 37 students at Rangitahi College in the small Bay of Plenty township of Murupara have just started mathematics tuition with their Hamilton-based maths teacher, Janet Eriksen. Janet provides one-on-one support for the students and it is hoped she too will be able to use video conferencing to communicate with her students, once broadband internet is available.

Further west, seven students at Kawhia Learning Centre are studying full-time with TCS and are supported by Ministry of Education teacher Jill Fraser and TCS teacher aide Robyn Vincent. The Year 10-13 students meet three times a week.

Jill says the students are engaged and attendance is good, they also enjoy the social contact they get when they come into the centre.

‘It’s a tight knit community, so the fact that they can stay in Kawhia and learn within their home environment is great’.