December 10, 2018
Space for Māori in Tomorrow’s Schools revamp
The Principal's Federation is welcoming a focus on the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori achievement in the proposed revamp of the tomorrow's school's framework.
A ministerial taskforce has recommended a shift from the business accountability model which saw each school as being in competition with its neighbours.
Federation president Whetu Cormick, NZPF President says that proved a dismal failure for children’s learning.
He says the taskforce has embraced a collaborative approach with children, equity and access at the centre, including seeing Māori as an equal participant rather than a problem to be fixed.
This includes a proposal to set up a hub focused on the needs of kaupapa Māori education
"If you think about kaupapa Māori settings or even Māori immersion settings within a mainstream school, they are really driven by whānau. We would welcome that continued focus from whānau but actually the system at the moment doesn't support kaupapa Māori and immersion education well enough in terms of property and in terms of resourcing, so that is one really positive area," Mr Cormick says.
The taskforce has taken a hard look at questions such as whether low decile and rural schools are properly funded.
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