October 13, 2015
Postgraduate boost for Maori medium teachers
Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced the creation of post-graduate qualifications in Maori medium teaching.
Ms Parata says the quality of teaching and leadership is what makes the most difference in education, and international research shows offering postgraduate qualifications lifts the quality of the profession.
Post graduate diploma and Masters programmes for English medium teachers started last year.
That will be extended year, with 90 postgraduate places available for people working n early childhood education and 85 places for Maori medium teachers to study at Waikato University, Massey University Te Wananga o Raukawa and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.
"It means that kaiako who are teaching either in kura or total immersion or bilingual immersion will have the opportunity to do a masters course in Maori medium or a postgraduate diploma and it's all about raising the quality of teaching and increasing the number of Maori teachers teaching and the number of teachers teaching in Maori language," she says.
Also today at Pipitea Marae, Minister Parata will present the first Kupe Scholarships, which cover tuition fees and allowances for 30 Maori and Pasifika teacher trainees as well as offer professional mentoring and recruitment support after graduation.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com