Hawke’s Bay Leads with Innovative Teaching Degree

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Hawke’s Bay Leads with Innovative Teaching Degree

The Eastern Institute of Technology is responding to community demand for primary teacher training in Hawke’s Bay by launching New Zealand’s first undergraduate practice-based degree.

EIT will also be the first institute of technology in New Zealand to offer the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary).

The impetus for a Hawke’s Bay-based degree came from four local principals, who approached EIT with the proposal.

In developing the qualification, EIT sought input from primary and intermediate schools in Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti, mentor teachers, new graduate teachers from other study programmes, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou and Turanganui a Kiwa iwi and Pacific Island groups.

Head of School for Education and Social Sciences, Gwenda Kevern says the upshot is that the community has had a real voice in shaping the degree.

Thirty candidate teachers will be enrolled in the first intake for the full-time three-year programme, which is modelled on best practice research from New Zealand and overseas. EIT’s field-based Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) also guided the writing team’s direction in terms of practice-based learning.

The students will spend two days a week at designated schools in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North and two days at EIT. They will also undertake school-based block practicums.

The six schools partnering up with EIT for the training programme are Te Mata School, Havelock North Primary School, Frimley School, Arthur Miller School, Taradale Intermediate School and Tamatea Intermediate School.

EIT and a small group of local principals agreed on an outline for the partnerships and 21 schools expressed interest in being involved.

“It was an amazing response,” Kevern says. “We were absolutely delighted.”

Principal of Hastings’ Frimley School, Malcolm Dixon describes the upcoming launch of the degree as an outstanding opportunity for Hawke’s Bay.

“Practice-based learning is the way of the future for training educators. For this region to be involved at this opening stage sets the platform for other training institutions.”

Taradale Intermediate School principal Dennis Coxon sees the partnership as an exciting and timely opportunity for Hawke’s Bay schools.

“Linking candidate teachers to host schools for the full year, with close support from EIT supervisors and teachers, is a model we believe will produce quality new teachers for the profession.

“Putting theory into practice through a balance of in-school practice and personal study is a real strength of the programme.”

The partnerships require a financial commitment by the partnering schools. For them, one of the pluses of the arrangement will be the early opportunity for getting to know who is “up and coming” among those studying for the degree.

The New Zealand Teachers’ Council and NZQA will visit EIT in early November to assess the programme for approval and accreditation.

“There’s been a real buzz of interest around the new degree,” Kevern says. “EIT is already fielding a lot of inquiries and requests for information from those interested in applying for a place on the programme.”

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