MAC changing outcomes for Māori students

Hoana Pearson

PĪTAU MĀTAURANGA - NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR

Taranaki principals keen to change outcomes for MĀori students

Hannah Lee 16:20, May 15 2015 - stuff.co.nz

Taranaki schools are lining up to be a part of a collective championing Māori student achievement.

More than 60 principals from throughout New Zealand gathered at Owae Marae last week for the Te Ara Hou Māori Achievement Collaboratives national hui.

Māori Achievement Collaboratives (MACs), supported by the Ministry of Education, focus on working with principals  to better meet the needs and improve achievement outcomes for Māori students.

The hui ran from Wednesday afternoon through to Friday and had a range of speakers discussing issues facing Māori students and how to better understand their different learning needs.

MACs national co-ordinator Hoana Pearson said it was a privilege to be part of an initiative where the key focus was to build relationships between schools and whānau, and where Māori identity could be utilised in the classroom to see greater results.

‘‘What’s most critical in learning is a relationship – it’s whānau, that role of nurturing. If you’re unable to maximise cultural capital, you don’t have access to a huge resource.’’

The initiative has been running for the past year and is growing in strength, numbers and success stories, Pearson said.

‘‘And what’s happening as a result [of MACs] is that principals have the courage to do things differently.’’ 

Schools from Taranaki, Christchurch, Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua/Taupo/ Tokoroa and the Far North had signed on to be a part of MACs and the goal was to continue to add schools to the programme so eventually every region would have representatives taking part, Pearson said.

Frankley School principal Damon Ritai said in the year their collective had been running he had seen a shift in attitudes towards seeing potential and helping Māori students achieve.

‘‘In a lot of ways, you’re driving for change against the current.’’

Ritai said he co-ordinated 12 Taranaki schools participating in the grassroots initiative and others were definitely taking notice.

‘‘We’ve got schools lining up who want to join and be part of that learning community.’’

Pearson praised the courage of participating principals to be a part of something that pioneered a way forward for others.

‘‘These principals are putting their hands up to be challenged – it’s new and it’s exciting.’’