May 13, 2015
Two-way partnership helps schooling
A desire to make a difference to the way schools catered for Maori and Pasifika learners has led to a Maori-Fijian woman earning a doctorate.
Dr Rae Si‘ilata from Ngati Raukawa, Tuhourangi, and Fiji graduated from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education on Monday, with her thesis on Pasifika learners being awarded a vice-chancellor’s prize.
Dr Si‘ilata started her PhD in 2010 after almost three decades of teaching in Porirua, Manawatu, Samoa and South Auckland.
She says educators have traditionally promoted one-way partnerships between schools and communities, rather than asking communities about the knowledge and literacy practices of home.
Often the system doesn’t always recognise or validate the linguistic, family and cultural knowledge that tamariki are coming with, such as oral storytelling, recitation and song that can be used in meaningful ways at school.
Dr Si‘ilata has been appointed as a lecturer in biliteracy at the Faculty of Education.
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