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Minister of Pacific Island Affairs fails Pacific education
Friday, 23 November 2012, 5:19 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party
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Su’a William
SIO
Pacific Island Affairs
Spokesperson
MP for Mangere
23 November
2012
MEDIA STATEMENT
Minister of Pacific Island
Affairs fails Pacific education
“A rift
between senior Pasifika leaders and the Minister of Pacific
Island Affairs is the result of the failure of this
Government to prioritise Pasifika people and their
educational aspiration,” said Su’a William Sio,
Labour’s Spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs.
“Le
Afioga Galumalemana Alfred Hunkin has today resigned as a
member of the Pacific Advisory Council to Hekia Parata in
protest over the meaningless 2012 Pacific Language Framework
strategy and the Pasifika Education Plan 2013 - 2017 hastily
launched yesterday.
“I’m sad this has happened but I
understand completely how this high chief of the Samoan
community must feel after serving 14 years on the Council
advising governments on the value of Pasifika
languages.
“He knows that this government is only paying
lip service to Pasifika people. He knows the old adage of
‘Ua togi le moa ae u’u le afa’ applies exactly with
this situation. The Government has offered the Pasifika
Education Plan 2013 - 2017 as a gift, but in reality it has
no real meaning for Pasifika people.
“The community is
calling for successful futures for our children and using
Pasifika languages in the learning is a strong pathway for
Pacific learners.
“The latest resignation follows RAISE
PASIFIKA pulling out of a community initiative made up of
teachers, researchers and parents from Government
discussions over the Pacific Education Plan.
“They
walked away from the plan because they sensed the
disingenuous nature of this Government towards Pacific
aspiration.
“This Government continues to fail to
recognise that if Pacific people succeed, New Zealand will
succeed,” said Su’a William Sio.
ENDS
© Scoop Media

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