The government says it has already completed a number of actions in its Māori Education Action Plan. Image: © spacezerocom- stock.adobe.com
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">Last week, Education Minister Erica Stanford released details of the new Māori Education Action Plan, which aimed to deliver better outcomes for Māori students. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The plan has been criticised by some as lacking in detail, and failing to address key issues driving inequitable education outcomes for ākonga Māori. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News</em> online HERE.</b></a></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Currently, one in four students are ākonga Māori, and on average Māori experience worse outcomes compared with other learners, said Stanford. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“This needs to change and our government is committed to driving this change.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Stanford said the plan outlines how the government will support achievement in English Medium settings, actions to strengthen Māori Medium Education and commits to working with leaders and iwi around Kauapapa Māori Education. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“We have invested in the roll-out of structured literacy in te reo Māori, developed decodable books and pāngarau mathematics resources in te reo Māori, and developed Hihira Weteoro, a nationwide phonics check,” said Stanford.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_25068" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-25068" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-25068" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AdobeStock_271874967-300x193.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="193" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-25068" class="wp-caption-text">The government says it&#8217;s committed to lifting outcomes for ākonga Māori, but many remain unconvinced. © Molly- stock.adobe.com</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“The next phase of work will provide teachers and kaiako the resources and professional development they need to bring the curriculum to life in their classrooms. It will also focus on teacher training to support the workforce of the future.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“We also want to continue supporting the important role whānau play in a child’s learning. The Ministry of Education will explore options with the Social Investment Agency on Alternative Education and partner with iwi to strengthen whānau engagement.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">But NZEI Te Riu Roa and incoming Te Manukura | President Ripeka Lessels, a tumuaki in Kawerau, remains unconvinced. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“This plan looks very much like a mirroring of the new English medium literacy and structured mathematics curricula. We cannot see a focus on pūtaiao science or Aotearoa histories, both important subjects for Māori ākonga. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">&#8220;The action plan makes mention of strengthening connections with hapu and iwi, but is light on detail. What we’d like to see is a focus on Aotearoa histories, rather than the ‘rebalancing’ the Government has talked about, because that focus on localised histories is one way in which those ties are practically strengthened with mana whenua.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“The action plan looks contradictory too because one hand it says it’s exploring options to increase availability of te reo education for teachers and on the hand Te Ahu o te Reo Māori funding has been cut. Te Ahu o te reo Māori was a proven way for Māori ākonga in English medium settings to access te reo.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Lessels says the plan is missing mention of funding to ensure ākonga Māori achieve in English-medium settings. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
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<p><span data-contrast="auto">“What we want to know is that any plans that are underway for more effective learning support are written by Māori, for Māori, and that the Crown intends to fund and resource those plans so that tamariki Māori can succeed in their own learning.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
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<p><span data-contrast="auto">Paora Stanley, Chief Executive for Ngāi Te Rangi, also criticised the plan, saying that it ignores the social factors that contribute to inequitable learning outcomes for ākonga Māori. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Stanley told Waatea News that the government should concentrate on alleviating poverty and the detrimental effects on whānau and their children. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Ngāi Te Rangi runs programmes for parents to help increase their income, such as a course to help parents gain a full drivers license. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“It raises a family wage, so the kids can go to school&#8230; it can change the dynamic of it all,” said Stanley. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Stanley also noted the government had not addressed classroom overcrowding, which is a longstanding issue. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Term 4 edition of School News is out now. Read it HERE.</a></strong></p>
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