Ethnic gaps explain few Māori scientists
The fact that few Māori study science at secondary school is because they are more likely to be from families with lower wealth and income, Professor Georgina Tuari Stewart says.
And the knock-on effect of this is that there are not enough Māori scientists in our universities and research institutions, the AUT Professor of Māori Philosophy of Education says in a recent academic paper and in an opinion piece on Stuff.co.nz.
At statistical levels, success at school is proportional with family income, however science has stricter academic demands than any other subject, she says.
To succeed in science, pupils need high levels of literacy, numeracy and to do a lot of rote-learning.
Good study habits are essential, and made possible by an organised home that allows for their needs, including a quiet study space.
The academic article is titled “The 51st reason why there are so few Māori in science” in reference to a paper by Dr Tara McAllister, of Victoria University of Wellington, titled “50 reasons there are no Māori in your science department” which looks at the workplace environment.