From left: Gary Nathan, senior tutor in Mathematics,
with students Anges Figota, Esther Faitala, and Natasha Silniu.

Talent Revealed: University of Auckland News Feb 2003

Students who might otherwise never have gone to University are being encouraged to do so through a Mathematics Department Summer School Scholarship. The scholarship, open to Maori and Pacific students from decile one and two schools, covers their fees plus a $1,000 grant to cover travel and loss of earnings. This year, 21 students held these scholarships. Professor David Gauld, HOD of Mathematics, says the triumph of this programme is that most of the students are achieving A and B passes, with just a scattering of C's. Failures are rare and the majority opt to continue tertiary study afterwards,though not necessarily in Mathematics.

"My concern:' he says,"is that there are many bright kids who would contribute in a big way if only we could get them to university. To an extent there is a waste of talent - and this programme is playing a part in wnearthing that talent."

Senior tutors who work with the students and organise their programme are Garry Nathan and Viliami Latu, who is originally from Tonga. The two also run the mentoring scheme for Maori and Pacific students at all levels in the Mathematics and Statistics Departments.

Students are accepted for the scholarship programme before they receive notice of Bursary results, explains Viliami.

Of 17 students who held these scholarships for Summer School in 2002, just seven would have been eligible for university on the basis of their Bursary marks.

"One who didn't pass the Bursary exam got an A pass in the Mathematics paper," Garry adds. "Though he hadn't qualified for entry to university, he then spent a year in the Wellesley programme and is enroiling at university this year"

More Pacific than Maori students are taking advantage of the scholarships, probably for demographic reasons, says Garry. The scheme has mainly operated in South Auckland until now. This year he and Viliami will extend it into West Auckland.

More Pacific than Maori students are taking advantage ot the scholarships., probably for demographic reasons says Gary. The scheme has operated mainly in South Auckland until now. This year, he and Viliami will extend it to Weat Auckland.

Exponential Potential Viliami Latu with summer school student Natasha Siliniu

The plusses of summer camp

Maths gurus are eyeing up the Big Smoke this year after spending the summer studying maths in the heart of the city. Nineteen South Auckland students won a $1000 scholarship and tuition fees to study calculus at Auckland University during their holidays. The programme has been set up to target Maori and Pacific Island students in low decile schools Co-ordinator Viliami Latu says this year's group have been top notch with almost 18 of the 21 students pwming to study maths. A former secondary school teacher, Mr Latu has seen firsthand the lack of participation in maths, especially in Maori and Pacific Island students. Eighteen-year-old Natasha Siliniu, of Otara, says maths is not just a boys' subject anymore - and increasingly girls are pushing into other male-dominated subjects, too. "I want to study medicine," she says. "Things like that wouldn't have been thought about in the past." Ms Siliniu has had a passion for maths and sci- ence since she was a child. "I love thinking outside the square!"

Extra lessons add up to better marks By Amy Patterson Central Leader

Some Auckland students got closer to their calculators than the beach during the summer holidays. Auckland University attracted 21 high school students to its maths summer school programme.

The programme targets talented Maori and Pacific sturents from low income schools.

Auckland University Head of Mathematics Professor David Gauld says these students receive scholarships to study during the summer. "These are bright students, but they haven't usually even considered studying at university. We are providing them with an opportunity and showing them what they can achieve" Mr. Gauld says. "The aim is to give them a taste of university life." Mr Gauld says many past students have gone on to further study, and some are about to complete their university qualifications. The scheme began three years ago. "It is wonderful to see these students finding their feet, particularly because without the scheme they may not even get to university." Mr Gauld says the course also enables students to meet students from other areas of Auckland. "That is so important, because often students from low decile schools can feel really lost when they get to university because they don't know anyone else."

In contrast, students from larger and more affluent schools go to university with people they know from their own schools, Mr Gauld says.

Senior tutors Viliami Latu and Garry Nathan work with and support the students.

"The participation of Maori and Pacific Island students in mathematics has traditionally been low," Mr Latu says.