Opportunity to learn te reo Maori critical for success
23 January 2015
All New Zealand children should have the opportunity to learn te reo Maori, NZEI Te Riu Roa says.
NZEI Te Riu Roa President Louise Green says the New Zealanders of the future will need to be more bi-cultural and
multi-cultural, not less.
"Schools and ECE services want to support the right of all Kiwi kids to access our country's cultural heritage and the
ability to be competent and comfortable in a bi-cultural environment.
"It's a core part of our curriculum already but we could do much better.. The issue is not about making language
learning compulsory or not. It is about the urgent need to meet today's demand - many children and their families, both
Pakeha and Maori, cannot access the level of teaching and learning of, or in, te reo that they want now.
"What is needed is a much stronger commitment by Government to resource and support teachers and kaiako to improve the
education system's ability to meet that need. That means investing more in initial teacher education, ongoing
professional development, employing more resource teachers of Maori, upskilling current educators and ensuring there is
wider whanau and adult learning opportunities available."
She said there was ample evidence to show exposure to languages supported children's learning in other areas.
ENDS