Te Reo TauiraLearning from Learners – Solving for

Success

Ivy J. HarperTe Mana Ākonga

Presentation Outline

Tauira One

• “I will come out of university with a huge student debt, probably live overseas for a while because I can find a job and one that pays better and will eventually come home. These people dis me and my culture and yet I am expected to support them in their retirement.”

• A young Māori Learner from a Kura commenting on the Baby Boomer Generation.

Tauira Two

“I want to learn te reo Māori so that I can speak to my tamariki and mokopuna.”

•A mature student at a Wānanga with 3 tamariki at home and re-entering the education arena .

Shared Values and Goals

• We want the best educational success and outcomes for tauira Māori • Student voice is fundamentally

important throughout the education system

Current Situation

• Student Debt • Racism• Lack of information, guidance annd support in

terms of pathways• Lack of belief in tauira Māori and their abilities• Absence of tauira Māori experiences, values

and culture in programmes and curriculum

Situation Grows Worse

• National - Education Achievement disparity, VSM Environment, Growing Student Debt, Mismatched Employment

• Regional - Chch Reconstruction, Auckland Super City, Urban Māori

• Sector - Capped funding, performance linked funding (institutions), lack of learner representation at governance level

• Population - Rate of Māori growth, younger Māori population

Responses To Changing Environment

• National - Need for a Māori Learner voice (TEC, Student Job Search, Ako Aotearoa, NZMC, MWWL, NZUSA etc)

• Regional – Ensuring good relationships between whanau/hapū/iwi, institutions, industry and Māori learners.

• Sector - Specific targets for institutions where Māori learners are concerned.

• Population - Meeting demographic demands.

Who is involved when policy is developed?

The Situation is getting harder

• Student support changes• Growing student debt• Growing student fees• Growing student voice?

Te Mana Ākonga

• Who we are and where have we come from?

Te Mana Ākonga Values and Founding Principles

“Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a text in the context of whanau, hapū and iwi realities.

The Treaty of Waitangi is a text in the context of colonisation.”

Moana JacksonNgāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

Te Mana Ākonga Key Objectives

• Safeguard the wellbeing of Māori Learners • Promote Māori development and sustainment of

Maori language, culture and customs through education

• Supporting learner aspirations and therefore whanau, hapū and iwi aspirations

• Advocate, promote and motivate change to ensure te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are more relevant to the sector

Te Mana Ākonga – Our Value and Contribution

• National Voice • Fairer treatment of Māori students• More responsive and supportive institutions• Access and equity in higher level courses• A Learner voice at all levels of the institution

The Language of Policy Development

Legislation

Autonomy Autonomy

Legislation

Tiriti o Waitangi

Tauira

Tiriti o Waitangi

Tauira

Student Voice = Solutions

• What TMA and roopu can do• Work with you re teaching and learning

quality, student voice and feedback• Helping understand and work with your

learners• Ask Tauira what they think

Points to Remember

• We want the best educational success and outcomes for tauira Māori • Student voice is fundamentally

important throughout the education system