MyFuture programme aims to raise NCEA pass rates
Local secondary students gathered at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to celebrate their graduation from MyFuture, a skills-development programme that aims to raise NCEA pass rates – starting with schools in South Auckland.
MyFuture is an AUT Future Students initiative being piloted at the university’s South Campus in Manukau.
Delivered in four sessions over the course of the school year, the programme is designed to develop life and study skills – helping students to prepare for their exams and plan for the future.
Students are taught how to set goals and make more informed career choices. There is also a strong focus on building self-confidence and silencing their ‘inner critic’.
AUT South Campus Relationship Manager, Sam Pilisi, spearheaded the programme.
At graduation, he addressed the parents in the audience.
“Earlier in the year, we talked about setting goals. Our young people are aware of the sacrifices that you make – they see you working hard. Some of them cried. And, that was the starting point for us.”
Launched in 2015, MyFuture was initially a one-day session for Year 10 students.
This year, a comprehensive programme was offered to Year 11 students for the first time.
Pilisi says local students need to start thinking about what they’re good at and what to study earlier on.
“We knew that, if we really wanted to make a difference, we had to help young people develop those critical life and study skills before they sit their first NCEA exam,” he says.
More than 50 students successfully completed the inaugural Year 11 programme, which gathered strong support from the five participating schools – James Cook High School (Manurewa), Tangaroa College (Otara), Tamaki College (Glen Innes), Papakura High School and Alfriston College.
The programme concluded last week with study revision for NCEA (Level 1) English, Maths and Science – held across three days at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.
Students attended in their own time during school holidays.
Lisiate Pau’uvale, a student at Tamaki College, says: “For English, I didn’t know what to write down. But, my tutor said there are no right or wrong answers. Before, I used to think there were a lot of wrong answers,” he says.
Elizabeth Wilson, a relief teacher who works in South Auckland, led a study revision class for Science.
“A lot of them were surprised that what they already knew was achievement level. They understood the individual components, but weren’t sure how to put them together. Sometimes, there’s a gap between knowing the content, interpreting the question and getting the answer down on the page.”
She says this group was far more engaged than your average class – firing questions and asking her to repeat answers without hesitation.
“AUT creates an incredible atmosphere of trust. These kids must feel very special and that builds their confidence.”
Quinita Poleo, a student from James Cook High School, says: “For me, coming here today shows that I’m committed to getting where I want to be in the future. The highlight for me was being surrounded by likeminded people who are willing to work to achieve what they want.
“The programme has given me access to knowledge and resources that I don’t have at school. And, I’ve been able to get really good results from my first term exams.”
Pilisi says this is not the end of the journey.
“We want to follow this first cohort all the way through to Year 12 and 13,” he says.
In 2017, MyFuture programmes for Year 11, 12, and 13 will be rolled out across more schools as part of the South Campus Schools Partnership.
A junior programme for Year 10 will be launched across all three AUT campuses – North, City and South.
AUT is committed to widening participation in tertiary education. This includes a concentrated effort to raise pass rates for NCEA and University Entrance.
AUT is the only university in South Auckland.