June 02, 2015
Maori achievement job for all teachers
Education Minister Hekia Parata says she’s disappointed at the small number of Maori nominations for the new professional standards and regulatory body for teachers.
A transition board been assessing the145 applicants, with the minister due to announce her appointments soon.
The Education Council or EDUCANZ replaces the elected New Zealand Teachers Council, and has been opposed by sector unions.
Ms Parata says while she tried to nudge some individuals and Maori groups to put in nominations, she had no intention of creating Maori seats on the council.
"Maori medium, while on average it is succesful for Maori kids, it caters for just 5 percent, so 95 percent of our kids doing NCEA are doing it through the mainstream, so commitment to professionalism about raising Maori achievement is not the isolated responsibility of Maori or Maori medium, it is the responsibility of the entire profession," she says.
Ms Parata says the new council will be completely independent and can commission research and be a public advocate on education issues.
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