Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Forced cultural awareness?

"A parliamentary inquiry will ask why 20 per cent of New Zealand school pupils fail...... That large disparity prompted the ERO to require all schools to prove they are helping struggling students - a requirement that will come into force next month...... Schools will be expected to make special efforts with literacy, numeracy and cultural awareness."

Why is the ERO making cultural awareness a priority?

The small independent school my son attends only has five teachers - more teachers than Maori pupils. This is what their ERO review says;

The board, through its charter and strategic plan, has a clear commitment to recognising the Treaty of Waitangi. It is continuing to seek a teacher of te reo and tikanga Māori. In the meantime, students wishing to learn te reo Māori are able to do so through The Correspondence School courses and students may choose to include a Māori perspective in any aspect of their studies.

Which is as it should be. The students can learn te reo Maori if they choose. I hope the school is not being "pressured" to find a further teacher but with ERO's stated priorities it wouldn't surprise.

1 comment:

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Look, So long as it isn't mandated I have no objection. My memories of learning Maori culture are good ones. But you can't force culture on people. It won't work.