Skip to content

The impact of COVID-19 on Pacific learners

The impact of COVID-19 on Pacific learners

  • 16 May 2022
  • |
  • COVID-19
New research 1

Are you interested in finding out how COVID-19 has impacted Pacific learners and how learners can be supported going forward?

The Education Review Office (ERO) has released a new report looking at how the pandemic has impacted Pacific learners.

In a nutshell – what did ERO find?

The report has found that, although Pacific learners and communities have been remarkably resilient in facing the challenges of COVID-19, Pacific learners were disproportionately impacted.

For example, two thirds of Pacific learners live in Auckland where schools have been closed more than three times the number of days than the rest of the country. 

The new research looks at the impact the disruption has had on engagement and achievement.

It also highlights how Pacific learners’ families, communities, and schools have been outstanding in supporting their students – providing examples of real ways teachers, schools, and aiga worked to support learners during the pandemic.

For example, some schools implemented flexible timetables to help learners manage education and other responsibilities, and some innovated to make culture a visible part of learning.

This new report recommends schools continue to do these things, along with taking proactive action to prioritise support for Pacific learners.

To support Pacific learners going forward, ERO recommends actions the wider education sector should take.

Read the short summary and ERO’s guide for school leaders

You can read the full report here: Learning in a Covid-19 World: The Impact of Covid-19 on Pacific Learners | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)

ERO has also produced a short summary with the key findings: Learning in a Covid-19 World: The Impact of Covid-19 on Pacific Learners - Summary | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)

And a guide for school leaders and how they can support Pacific learners: Learning in a Covid-19 World: A guide for supporting Pacific learners | Education Review Office (ero.govt.nz)