The national collective entity for kura kaupapa Māori is slamming the Government's 100-day plan, saying it will put more pressure on kura and require "teachers to be police", as well as taking away from other subjects that they deem are just as important.
The Government wants to ban cellphones in schools and implement an hour per day for reading, writing and maths.
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa (Te Rūnanga Nui) co-chairperson Rawiri Wright said they were concerned about what the coalition government wants to put in place.
"The majority of schools, kura, that I know, they already have sufficient policies and procedures in place that students are comfortable with and that manage the [cellphone] issue.
"Yes, there are some schools around the country that are having more significant issues, but we're already one of the most over-legislated countries in the world, and to put that sort of legislation in place just seems like a waste of energy," Wright said.
In terms of reading, writing and maths skills among kura kaupapa students, he said in comparison to Māori students in mainstream schools, kura kaupapa are doing very good.
"The only significant national indicator of success in reading and writing and all those sorts of things is the NCEA results. There's now more than fifteen years of statistics which shows that kura kaupapa Māori kids are doing very well, thank you very much."
That's not to say they have no issue with literacy and numeracy, he said, "we are always concerned, we are always striving to be the best that we can for our tamariki, but to legislate in this way — a bit frivolous really".
He said they were also concerned that the new Education Minister "doesn't seem to know too much about te ao mātauranga" and they're worried about what will become of their Waitangi Tribunal claim over the Crown's alleged breach of its kura kaupapa Māori obligations.
The coalition government has already agreed to a Treaty Principles Bill that aims to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
"What it looks like is that they are trying to de-indigenise New Zealand. All we can see is a retrograde steps backwards," Wright said.
Glossary
kura kaupapa Māori – Māori immersion school
kura – school, learning centre
tamariki – children
te ao mātauranga – education sector/sphere
SHARE ME