Improvement In Action Te Ahu Whakamua

In this clip Māori educators and a Māori student draw from their own experiences to discuss the concept of identity and the central role schools play in the identity development of Māori students.

They propose that it is important that the knowledge Māori students have, about who they are and where they come from is acknowledged and valued within the school setting.

Additionally the interviewees encourage teachers and leaders to provide Māori students with

opportunities to explore, better understand, share and strengthen their identity so that they can achieve education success ‘as Māori’.

This video illustrates

Domain 2: Leadership for equity and excellence

Evaluation indicator

• Leadership ensures an orderly and supportive environment that is conducive to student learning and wellbeing

Key content

• The need for schools to create opportunities for learners to self identify as Māori and be supported to better know themselves and their culture
• “We bring our identity into the classroom with us, we bring our culture into the classroom with us”
• “ They want to learn how to fit into todays society as a Māori”
• “Something that’s always in the back of every Māori’s mind is; How Māori am I?”
• Of particular concern to these educators are those ‘disenfranchised, strident young Māori, probably the most volatile group… who have the look and that’s where it stops’

Things to think about

• What is our response to the need to support culture, language and identity?
• What else could we consider?