One the impacts COVID-19 has had on young people is making the challenge of education even more challenging! Whilst the majority of students have transitioned well back into the school routine, for some it has been harder. As we know, in order to be successful, students need to attend school consistently. Supporting students to remain engaged has been identified as a high priority.

In response to this need, Challenge 2000 has been able to provide one of its partner schools, Taita College, with an experienced educator. Mat Anderson (Ngāti Maniapoto) has been a teacher and senior leader for many years.

Mat is working with a group of students lying beneath the 10 numeracy credit threshold, giving them the skills and confidence to tackle maths assessments that contribute to the credits required to get NCEA. Students have responded well to “Matua”, as they call him, and are enjoying working alongside him and achieving.

Although a different role to what he’s had in the past, Mat is enjoying the chance to work with smaller groups of students in a more focussed way. Some students have even put their hands up to do additional assessments after achieving the mandatory 10 credits. “It’s heartening to see what these young ones are capable of when they believe in themselves.”

Thanks, Mat, for the difference you’re making in the lives of these students.