Māori Teacher Education
The primary bilingual teacher education programme was implemented in 1996 in response to local and national needs for teachers qualified to work in primary schools using te reo Māori as the medium of instruction in all or part of the learning programmes. Graduates would be qualified to teach the curriculum of primary school in Māori and in English.
Prior to this, in 1994, a group of 17 Kaiako Māori/Kaiarahi Māori, working in a certificate course and recruited from the Māori community, revealed the desire for the establishment of a diploma programme that they could enter into which was at least bilingual to assist in their own te reo Māori development. This was supported by other students within the College, personnel from College management, kaumatua, iwi representatives, other educational organisations and Māori communities. With ongoing consultation between these Komiti Māori representatives the diploma programme came to life.
Students in this programme not only develop as effective teachers, but also develop their personal knowledge of their own taha Māori, knowing who they are, where they are from, where they are heading and what they need to get there.
The benefits of the programme are wide ranging
- students gain in-depth knowledge of chosen kaupapa (topics) which is shared with each other as well as general programme workmates.
- confidence in te reo Māori increases at students own rates of progression.
- concepts such as whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, tautoko, tuakana teina etc are continually encouraged and developed over the 3 years and carried as essential parts of their classroom environment.
- effective teaching qualities, skills and knowledge are continually reinforced through being involved in general programme and bilingual courses.
"Whaia te iti kahurangi, me tuohu koe he maunga teitei"
This whakatauki (proverb) is issued to the students when they start the programme. It is a challenge to them to meet and overcome the many obstacles that they will face throughout their training and also within their teaching career.