I am Educated and I am Māori
I am educated, and I am Māori.
But everyday my peers, my whānau and I are told otherwise by statistics and data. Studies that show the overall academic achievement levels of Māori students as low and highlighting our three times higher rate of suspension from school. We are more likely to leave school earlier with less formal qualifications and less likely to enroll in tertiary education. These gaps have existed since the establishment of the New Zealand education system by settlers in the 1800s and for hundreds of years, this same system has repressed and disadvantaged Māori.
That the New Zealand education system has failed to deliver equal opportunities for Māori is a product of the colonial history of New Zealand. The same system that served to convert and assimilate Māori into the European culture, creating intergenerational disadvantages where we were disconnected from our history and spiritual belief systems. Today we are in a state of rediscovery and restoration, and in my opinion, education is the way forward.
The decision to teach New Zealand history in schools is a step in the right direction in addressing the lack of Māori narratives and culture in the curriculum. The next step is to teach and use te reo Māori in all schools to improve the pronunciation of Māori names and places and aid the revitalisation of te reo Māori. As stated in the 1986 Waitangi Tribunal claim for te reo Māori, we must put our “language, and therefore the culture, on to a pedestal so that our children will see “being Māori” as something to be proud of, not something to be treated as worthless.”
Education reforms are necessary to address concerns about mono-cultural and prejudiced teaching practices. There are examples of culturally responsive techniques and practices that address the needs of Māori students and can provide the foundation on how to provide an adequate education for Māori. A Kaupapa Māori schooling approach demonstrates the effectiveness of providing an inclusive learning space where students can enrich both their culture and academic learning. Kaupapa Māori schooling includes Te Kohanga Reo, Te Kura Kaupapa and Te Wharekura and these programmes fully immerse Māori students in Māori language, customs and stories. The ability to use both te reo Māori and the English language is fundamental to the success of these institutions. This further proves how the answers in addressing Māori underachievement do not lie in the mainstream. Of course, the New Zealand education system should be consulting with Māori to find the most inclusive and appropriate way to help their students and learners thrive in the education system.
We are living through a defining moment in our history. This global pandemic has forever changed how we all experience daily life at work and school, interact with each other and has also exposed the need for educational reforms. The findings and statistics emerging from the closure of schools and education facilities only prove how unprepared the system is in providing equal opportunity for Māori students and learners. While the health benefits of closing learning centres and other communal areas are indisputable, closing schools and educational facilities severely impacted Māori communities. Replacement options of online learning and reliance on technology further disadvantage students who do not have access to the internet.
The recognition of systemic injustices has also given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement in America, which is advocating for change and reform to address the systemic oppression of African Americans. This movement has inspired people around the world to confront the state of race relations in their countries and homes. Now is the perfect time to implement change in systems that have been used in the past to diminish Māori aspirations for sovereignty.
The truth is, I can be educated and I can be Māori and I believe we must take action to enhance the experience of Māori students in schools so we do not have to leave our cultural identity at the door when we step into a classroom.
The New Zealand education system should address educational disparities between students and reform teaching practices, attitudes and assessments to ensure no more Māori have an experience of cultural deprivation and marginalisation in their schooling.