Government Unveils Māori Education Action Plan to Improve Outcomes for Māori Students

The New Zealand Government has released its Māori Education Action Plan, outlining a comprehensive approach to deliver better outcomes in the classroom for Māori students. The plan aims to address the significant disparities faced by Māori students in terms of educational attainment and opportunities.

Supporting Te Reo Māori Teaching

The plan includes commitments to develop resources to support te reo Māori teaching, with a focus on increasing the availability of teachers trained in this area. Education Minister Erica Stanford highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting Māori language and culture in schools.

“Removing te reo Māori teacher training funding is crazy – students say so,” said Ms. Stanford. “We need to support our teachers to provide high-quality education that reflects the needs of our Māori communities.”

Addressing Literacy and Numeracy

The plan also includes a commitment to implement structured literacy and numeracy programs, with a focus on improving outcomes for Māori students in these subjects. According to Ms. Stanford, current statistics show that only 12% of Māori students in English medium settings achieve the curriculum benchmark in maths by Year 8.

Strengthening Māori Medium Education

The plan outlines early actions to support the achievement of Māori students in Māori-medium schools. This includes strengthening partnerships between schools and iwi, as well as exploring options for increasing teacher training and professional development.

“We want to continue supporting the important role whānau play in a child’s learning,” said Ms. Stanford. “The Ministry of Education will explore options with the Social Investment Agency on alternative education and partner with iwi to strengthen whānau engagement.”

Collaboration and Engagement

Ms. Stanford emphasized the importance of collaboration and engagement with Māori education leaders, te matakahuki, and whānau. She committed to drawing on the advice and guidance of her Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group as the plan is developed.

“This is just the start,” said Ms. Stanford. “I will continue to engage with te matakahuki and Māori education leaders so we can all ensure our tamariki benefit from a world-leading education.”

Next Steps

The next phase of work will focus on providing teachers with resources and professional development they need to bring the curriculum to life in their classrooms. Ms. Stanford committed to continuing this work, ensuring that Māori students receive high-quality education that reflects their unique needs and experiences.

By working together with whānau, iwi, and educators, the Government aims to create a more equitable education system that supports the achievement of all students, particularly those from Māori communities. The release of the Māori Education Action Plan marks an important step towards achieving this goal.