(Picture caption: The Toloa Scholarships empower Pacific students to continue their STEM journey with the tools for success.)
The recent 300 Toloa Scholarships awarded to Pacific students, will make strides towards remedying the lack of representation of Pacific peoples involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
This year, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples provided 50 Toloa Tertiary Scholarships of $10,000 each to students across seven institutions, and a further 250 Toloa Secondary School Scholarships, with students each receiving $1,000 and a device for their learning.
They also receive wellbeing support during their study period.
The 2023/2024 scholarships aim to inspire and support Pacific students in their engagement with STEM, and have been distributed across New Zealand, with 213 awarded in the Northern region, 56 in the Central region, and 31 in the South Island.
Toloa has been a flagship programme for the Ministry over the past eight years, promoting STEM subjects and career pathways to Pacific peoples, with a vision to make a transformational impact in the communities we live in, says Leilani Unasa, Director, Commissioning Central and Southern.
“Pacific peoples have been underrepresented in the STEAM fields for a long time and we have been working hard to change this scenario,” Leilani says.
“Our goal is to shift Pacific peoples into STEM employment from 2.8 percent to 8 percent by 2028.”
The Toloa Scholarships have supported students on their journey to become technology practitioners, engineers, scientists, veterinarians, astro-physicists, designers and architects, adds Leilani.
“Toloa is all about giving our young people the STEM skills they need to succeed in a fast-changing world, and ensuring they have access to opportunities and are not swept aside by the tide of technological change engulfing the world.
“The scholarships help ensure Pacific young people have the skills and confidence to meet the challenge of the new and reap the benefits of a brilliant future.”
Visit the MPP website for more information about the Toloa initiative.