The head of the Education Ministry has told MPs the under-achievement of Māori students is chronic, intractable and systemic.
Education Secretary Iona Holsted appeared before a select committee yesterday for its annual review of the ministry. She says one major problem is teachers who do not respond to the identity, culture and language of Māori in their classes.
Her comments came just weeks after a study involving nearly 1,700 children showed that many young Māori feel they are treated unequally at school because of their culture.
Iona Holsted joins Guyon Espiner to discuss the problem.
