Sacred Heart College has joined a national programme which supports and extends Māori students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and career pathways.

Pūhoro STEM Academy was launched in 2016 in response to low Māori representation in STEM-related careers.  The fully-funded programme, newly launched in Hawke’s Bay, has proven successful in other regions, with its students achieving NCEA pass rates above national averages in science and mathematics. 

It is now operating in 31 schools and more than 1000 students are taking part in the programme. This month, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced the Government will provide $2.97 million of funding over three years to grow the programme.

Sacred Heart College teacher in charge Theresa Cowen, HOD Science, says they have been really impressed with Pūhoro as an organisation, both in terms of what they provide in the programme, but also their willingness to work in partnership with the school. 

She says the programme aligns well with a key target in their school’s Strategic Plan, for 92 per cent of

Māori students to achieve NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications, in-line with non-Māori achievement. 
Currently, twelve Year 11 SHC students are involved in the programme, all of whom are studying science and mathematics. 

The Academy works directly with secondary students and their whānau and provides weekly group sessions at school outside of class time, alternating between mentoring (including career exposure) and academic support or extension for Level 1 Science. 

In each of Terms 1-3, there is also a one-day wānanga, which brings together students from across participating schools in Hawke’s Bay, within culturally appropriate settings, to explore STEM activities and navigate potential career pathways in science and technology-related industries. 

“It is a commitment from the school, but one that we see lots of potential and benefits for students, in terms of engagement and achievement, and confidence, as well as potential career pathways,” Mrs Cowen said.

The programme also has support from Whāea Henrietta Hillman, HOD Te Reo Māori, and Principal Maria Neville-Foster. 

For Hawke’s Bay Kaihautū and Kaihautū Support, Te Maari MacGregor, it is somewhat of a full circle, given that she is a past pupil of Sacred Heart College.

Ms MacGregor, who has a background in sports, currently facilitates about 100 students across six schools in the region. She says Mrs Cowen and Principal Maria Neville-Foster jumped on board from the get-go. 

“What I found growing up, and in school, was not actually being able to connect what I'm learning to myself - not necessarily myself as a Māori, but myself and what I'm going to do in the big world.”

“And that’s what Pūhoro has found, that Māori students don't know how to connect what they're learning to themselves, and to the world. They can't see past the point of writing down or sitting in science class and they don’t know what it is going to take them to. 

“So, what we found is that with the engagement I have with the kids in Kaihautū sessions, I can connect them in what they're learning, to the world, and where that could take them,” she said. 

Year 11 student Acacia Tamihana-Joe said she hopes this will enable more Māori students to be represented in the science field. While she doesn’t yet know what she wants to do after school, she believes the Academy will go a long way in helping her figure it out. 

Fellow student Charlotte Kingi believes Pūhoro is setting her up for a better future. She hopes to pursue a career in criminology or forensics and has already enjoyed learning more about these potential career options. 

While the programme is currently offered for this year only, Mrs Cowen says they hope to continue the partnership in future years, to allow eligible students to benefit from the opportunities and support the programme offers.