Media release Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa 6 June 2012

Kura-a-Iwi and Tribes support Quality Teaching and Performance Pay.

‘We will speak for ourselves on the current educational issues before us’ says Pem Bird, Chairman of Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa.

‘What’s missing at present is an Iwi/Maori voice. We have taken a firm view and position that we are going to put into the mix to ensure that our voice is heard and that Iwi/Maori are not sidelined and marginalised and furthermore taken for granted by those who purport to speak for the education sector at large.’

‘The issue of teacher-pupil ratio that is causing considerable angst and outrage within the teaching fraternity and upset amongst parents needs to be kept in its proper perspective and context. And that context is improving pupil achievement.’

There is a direct correlation between teaching and learning. We state this correlation as

“Ka tika mai a whakaako, ka ora mai a ako”

“Learning will flourish if teaching is effective” a truism surely!

Teacher Pupil ratio in the whole scheme of things is of secondary importance to the key core and pivotal activity of teaching.

‘Unfortunately public and media attention has been skilfully deflected away from quality teaching to increased class size. We have had smaller teacher pupil ratios for the past ten years at least yet there has been no significant increase in Maori achievement levels during that period. If reduced class size is the panacea for improved Maori achievement then the results over the past ten years should bear this out. Sadly it does not’ says Paora Royal experienced principal and member of the executive committee of Te Akatea Maori Principals Leadership Group.

‘The crux of the matter is still the quality of teaching, increased class size or not.’

Our international (OCED) ranking of fifth place in terms of pupil achievement in literacy and numeracy is being trumpeted as irrefutable evidence of an excellent education system with great pride and satisfaction by defenders of the system. That pride and satisfaction however needs to be tempered when the plight of the Maori and Pasifika Learner is placed under the microscope. Neither Maori nor Pasifika have much to crow about let alone write home about.

There is an unacceptably long tail of underachievement in general. Firmly entrenched within that tail is the hugely disproportionate and ugly sore that is Maori underachievement and Pasifika underachievement.

‘Maori underachievement has been around forever and shows little sign of disappearing. For example, achievement in NCEA whilst indicating a little improvement reveals that we’re still considerably behind other New Zealanders using NCEA level 2 as the national benchmark for minimal achievement for learners.’

‘And this is where the rubber meets the road. The uptake of qualifications by Maori that will potentially create superior and meaningful career choices for them is far short of where it should be relative to Pakeha achievement. We can track this inferior achievement in NCEA back through the years to their early schooling.’

‘We can’t help but feel that a culture of acceptance and indeed of resignation has taken a firm foothold and that somehow our tamariki mokopuna have become collateral damage.’

‘What is needed to change the landscape for Maori is Quality Teaching that is underpinned by strong and trusting relationships between pupil and teacher, school and whanau and at the macro level school and iwi for an increasing number of schools.’

Iwi are an emerging and significant player and force in education in general, with 57 iwi currently involved in a formal education relationship with the Ministry of Education around te reo revitalisation, Iwi education and Iwi curriculum. Of these Iwi 15 have a close working relationship at present with Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa.

‘The bottom line is that we regard mokopuna as taonga and we will protect and advocate for their best interests’ says Colin Rangi, adviser to paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu whose Tuwharetoa people support the stance taken by Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa.

‘And the emphasis has to be on growing teacher capability to teach Maori learners.’

A hui of Kura-a-Iwi tribal partners and other Iwi who may be interested will be hosted by Tauranga Moana on Wednesday 13th June 2012 to facilitate an iwi wide response on the matters of Quality Teaching Performance Pay and Maori underachievement in general.

A sampling of opinion amongst iwi other than Tuwharetoa show unanimous support for Minister Hekia Parata’s broad strategy on Quality Teaching and Performance Pay both of which are being spearheaded by Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa.

‘Clearly an iwi view is emerging with, Ngai te Rangi, Ngati Manawa, Ngati Porou, Ngai Tai and Ngati Raukawa at this stage expressing their support along with Tuwharetoa.’

‘The issue of Quality Teaching is not done and dusted as far as we’re concerned. Far from it! So we’re looking forward to getting together on Wednesday 13th and coming up with a consensus about where we stand.’

‘If the early indications are anything to go by, there’ll be an equally emphatic statement, an opposing one to that that has dominated the headlines to date, to take into consideration’ said Mr Rangi.
ends

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