Boost For Status And Value Of Te Reo Maori

Media Release
March 20th, 2009

From NZEI Te Riu Roa
For immediate use

Boost For Status And Value Of Te Reo Maori

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says new curriculum guidelines for te reo Māori in mainstream schools will help boost the value and status of the language for all New Zealanders.

The first ever Māori language curriculum for mainstream schools has been launched by the Education Minister. They are intended to help every English-medium school in New Zealand design and shape a curriculum that includes te reo Māori.

NZEI welcomes the guidelines, saying they will give both students and teachers an opportunity to learn and use te reo at every level. Many teachers already include some te reo in their classrooms but have been limited to the basics. These curriculum guidelines will not only broaden children’s learning but will support teachers in learning new skills and improving their own knowledge as well.

NZEI Matua Takawaenga Laures Park, says initially the guidelines were only going to focus on Year 8 students as part of the learning languages area of the curriculum. She says NZEI was adamant that that focus should be broadened.

“It’s great to see that the end result is more inclusive and curriculum guidelines will cover all New Zealand schoolchildren from Years 1-13. The intention should always be to support te reo Māori and tikanga Māori across the board,” she says.

“The curriculum guidelines may also provide a springboard for students to choose to become more fluent and are a solid first step in raising the value and status of te reo Māori in society at large.”

ENDS

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