Union supports push for Tohu Whakapakari qualification recognition

<h2>Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa has this week announced it is backing Te K&omacr;hanga Reo National Trust&&num;8217&semi;s campaign to have its three-year qualification&comma; Tohu Whakapakari&comma; recognised as a teaching qualification by the Ministry of Education and NZQA&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>Matua Takawaenga Laures Park says the union&&num;8217&semi;s members in K&omacr;hanga Reo have valuable skills in Te Reo and Te Ao M&amacr;ori that are essential for tamariki and they should be properly recognised and remunerated&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;The Ministry of Education and NZQA have been dodging this issue for more than 20 years&period; Tohu Whakapakari is K&omacr;hanga Reo tohu that produces Kaiako and it must be recognised as such&period; This is important mahi that Te K&omacr;hanga Reo National Trust is undertaking and &&num;8211&semi; as always &&num;8211&semi; they have our support&comma;&&num;8221&semi; says parks&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Tohu Whakapakari is an indigenous qualification and has too long awaited recognition from these P&amacr;keh&amacr; institutions&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;NZEI Te Riu Roa supports every and any endeavour that will improve conditions and outcomes for Kaiako and tamariki&period; To that end&comma; we have launched a separate pay equity claim on behalf of our members working in K&omacr;hanga Reo&period; This claim will cover the need for Tohu Whakapakari to be recognised as a teaching qualification&period;&&num;8221&semi; <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Treaty-based organisation NZEI Te Riu Roa is New Zealand’s largest education union&comma; with over 48&comma;000 members and is a powerful advocate for quality public education&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;