Ministry of Education Pacific language books recognised

A series of books designed to help Pacific children with literacy was awarded at the SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards in Auckland.

“We’re thrilled that these books have been recognised. It means a lot that the efforts we put in, along with the contribution of the schools, teachers, writers illustrators, family members and our partners has been appreciated,” says Ellen MacGregor-Reid, Deputy Secretary, Early Learning and Student Achievement.

“We launched these books in 2016 and there has been a huge uptake. There are 123 flip-books available. Each has a story in either Cook Islands Māori, Tuvaluan, Tokelauan, Tongan or Samoan with the story translated into English on the other side of the book.”

“We know that one of the best ways we can teach literacy to young people who don’t have English as their first language is to leverage off the language they already have literacy in.

“We’ve been working closely with Auckland University, Auckland UniServices, LIFT Education, and a number of schools through the Pasifika Early Literacy Project and we’re so grateful that the efforts these groups have put in is having a real impact.

“We hope that this award means that more schools and families are aware of these books and they take the opportunity to read them.”

The books are free and digital and hard copies can be ordered through the Ministry of Education website.