We write to the Māori Affairs Select Committee
The Māori Affairs Select Committee is holding an inquiry to gain an overview on the learning support needs of ākonga Māori and whether these are currently being met, as well as identify ways to better meet these needs.
We have sent in a submission to the inquiry, which you can read here. We hope to be able to provide an oral submission to the Committee in due course.
Our key points for their consideration are:
Knowing how to read and write is critical to engagement and success at school and in life.
All tamariki can acquire good literacy skills if they are taught using evidence-based teaching methods (Structured Literacy).
We need to focus on getting core classroom instruction right in the first instance, before considering what is required at different tiers of intervention (learning support).
Supporting ākonga Māori (including those with additional learning needs) to thrive at school requires a dual approach: understanding them as individuals and part of a whanau (whānaungatanga), and using evidence-based teaching approaches.
We need to understand how to better support whānau of ākonga Māori that may have complex needs, and equip teachers to understand that wider and more complex picture and what this may practically mean for their teaching.
There is fast growing awareness and a real hunger to know more about evidence-based Structured Literacy amongst kaiako in all education settings, including those in Māori immersion settings.
The support and funding provided to schools for literacy teaching and intervention is inequitable, and Māori kura are particularly disadvantaged by the current system.
Our recommendations for them are:
seek a more in-depth briefing on the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy from us; and
engage with the Ministry of Education to press for this approach to be supported and funded across Māori medium kura as soon as possible, as well as continuing their efforts to embed this approach within English medium schools.