On Tuesday Education Minister Erica Stanford announced a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group has been established to help improve outcomes for Māori learners.
In a statement, Stanford said the group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English and Māori medium settings.
“It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift achievement for Māori learners and close the equity gap that has persisted for too long in our education system.”
“While some Māori students achieve excellent results, on average Māori experience worse outcomes than other learners on every major metric that we currently measure. This needs to change,” Stanford said.
She adds MAG will develop a Māori Education Action Plan which will be framed by her six education priorities and draw on existing Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia and Tau Mai Te Reo strategies.
The group will be chaired by Dr Wayne Ngata MNZM (Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou). It will report directly to the Education Minister over a two-year term starting this month.
The rest of the members are Olivia Hall (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia), Dame Georgina Kingi DNZM QSO (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāi Tai) and Will Workman (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitāne o Wairarapa).
Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington associate dean, teacher education Hiria McRae supports this.
“Having a group of respected Māori educators supporting our minister in making decisions or working with others to make decisions around Māori education is really positive.”
She said Dr Wayne Ngata is extremely visionary in what he’s done in his rōhe and nationally, and commends his work on the last iteration of the New Zealand curriculum, Te Mātaiaho, which ensured the curriculum’s foundation is underpinned by kaupapa Māori.
Māori students have long been underserved
Hiria said our education system has long underserved Māori students and due to the inherited assimilative process within our education structures, Māori education aspirations aren’t prioritised.
“Research shows that Māori students’ success occurs when their identity as Māori is valued and privileged in their learning environments so this also includes recognising the diversity and understanding the diversity of Māori students.”
She said supporting both Māori and English medium settings is important, because 90% of Māori students are in English medium settings, and many of which don’t support their unique needs.
“These English medium schools are part of existing Māori communities, so how are they engaging with Māori communities to understand [the] needs and aspirations for their tamariki Māori?”
When asked about what she expects to come from this newly established group, she said she expects Ministers will take the time to spend time with Māori communities to understand their diverse needs.
Hiria also brought up the issue of teacher shortage, and said it’s even more dire for Māori teachers and would like to see how this can be addressed.
She said she would also like to see Māori teachers cover other subjects in their reo, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Why it’s important to lift achievement for Māori students
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland director of Māori medium education Hēmi Dale said this move signals the Minister’s recognition of the importance of Māori leading in the Māori education space.
He said the experienced members are known for their innovation and leadership in education over the years.
Hēmi said the equity gap in Māori student achievement is a problem that’s been around for a long time.
“This is not a new issue … One of the aspirations in terms of te ao Māori and education has been that we take a greater role in developing education that’s relevant for ourselves here in Aotearoa in this 2024 context.”
With innovations to help bridge that gap, like bilingual classes, te kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori (Māori-language immersion schools), and immersion classes in English medium schools, Hēmi said evidence indicates this is the way forward.
“It will ensure our whānau are connected to education and schooling and then our Māori students [will] excel as we want them to.”
He said lifting the Māori student achievement is also about realising long-held aspirations for Māori learners to stand tall in te ao Māori, te reo Māori, mātauranga Māori, and tikanga Māori.
“Our students … can be active participants in both te ao Māori and the wider world in whatever path they choose to follow.”
“Kia tū tangata i te ao Māori, i te ao whānui hoki.’ (To stand tall in te ao Māori and the wider world).”
By Vivien Beduya
