Te Whāriki in the 21st century

4 November 2016

Te Whāriki in the 21st century

New Zealand Kindergartens, Te Pūtahi Kura Puhou o Aotearoa, welcomes the opportunity to take part in the Ministry of Education’s consultation on the draft update of Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki is a unique curriculum that’s helped shape a generation of New Zealanders in their early years. It is a national taonga and highly regarded internationally. We’d like to acknowledge the writers who have completed the draft, adding their contribution to the visionary work of Sir Tamiti and Lady Tilly Reedy, Helen May and Margaret Carr.

The Ministry of Education is revising Te Whāriki over a very short space of time. It’s important the update retains the elements that make Te Whāriki meaningful in the early years and across cultures within Aotearoa New Zealand, and that it incorporates new understandings of how children learn in our bicultural and multicultural communities.

For the revised Te Whāriki to be successful, the voices of teachers, kaiako, parents and whānau need to be heard and acted on. We urge everyone to have their say. A revitalised Te Whāriki will help all teachers and kaiako lift the quality of teaching and learning, ensuring children are confident and competent learners in generations to come.

ENDS

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