SPA: Don't force Te Reo on teachers

Pita Sharples. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Forcing teachers to take courses to learn Te Reo Maori will backfire, the president of the Secondary Principals' Association (SPA) says.

A Maori Youth Council report to Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples has recommended tertiary level Maori language and education courses be made compulsory for secondary school teachers.

Mr Sharples has welcomed the report, which looked into four areas: Youth justice, Maori education, youth development and representation of Maori youth.

"In education the Council's focus is on supporting teachers to understand Maori students better, and helping schools to engage with Maori communities," he said.

However Secondary Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said while teachers learning Te Reo will help Maori students, forcing them to learn the language will be resented by some.

"We have no issue with the idea itself certainly Maori have been underachieving in secondary schools for some time. Secondary school principals, boards and teachers are working to address that issue, and they do a lot with Te Reo which helps with sensitivity and awareness," he told Newstalk ZB.

"Our issue with it is secondary school teachers have been under a lot of pressure to cover a lot of requirements from Government and boards and society.

Mr Walsh said teachers already have to take courses to get up to speed with technology, to counter bullying, and to get to grips with NCEA and National Standards, as well as coaching sports teams.

"This is just adding another thing that they had to do. There has to be a limit somewhere.

"I think anyone would realise if you force adults into a learning experience they are immediately going to resent having to be there. It is far better to develop a really good course, provide some incentives and let people see that they want to be there and they are more likely to learn and be part of the project."

Mr Walsh said secondary school teachers have a basic understanding of Te Reo Maori and are culturally aware.

"My experience is there are no teachers in New Zealand who don't want to lift the achievement levels of Maori but forcing them to achieve courses would be counter productive."

Other recommendations in the Maori Youth Council's report are better facilities and services to keep young people out of trouble, more mentoring and training for young people, and community and agency support for families caught up in the justice system, Mr Sharples said.

"Throughout this report there are four themes: greater use of whanau and community-based initiatives, improved access to information, more targeted resources, and greater use of Te Reo Maori to engage young people."

- NZ Herald staff, Newstalk ZB