Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga – Iwi Advocate for Education

Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga – Iwi Advocate for Education

Charter schools: MPs urged to listen long and hard

Awanui Black says the MPs on the parliamentary select committee hearing submissions on charter schools need to listen long and hard to what iwi are telling them.

“All our iwi want a stop put to the education system’s shameful and continued failure of our Maori children,” said Mr Black, spokesperson for Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga – Iwi Advocate for Education.

“Some iwi see charter schools as a solution and others see other changes as a solution.”

Mr Black said Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga supports both views including that of the Iwi Education Authority’s recent call for it to have the option to introduce the charter initiative in the 23 kura it represents across 15 different iwi.

"What iwi are saying is that one way is not the right way, that one shoe does not fit all and that they want options."

Mr Black also added that while kura and other Maori-medium schools worked closely with their local hapu and iwi, the majority of mainstream schools did not.

“Those schools too need to listen to what iwi in their areas have to say. It takes a village to raise a child and teachers and principals simply can’t do it alone.”

Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga – Iwi Advocate for Education is a newly formed advocacy group which speaks on educational matters for 60 iwi organisations delivering education and training programmes. They are also the technical advisory group on education to the Iwi Chairs Forum. NKM is developing strategies to lift Maori educational achievement.
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