KEY POINTS:
Teachers claim they are being bullied to take part in a programme aimed at boosting Maori achievement in the classroom and are considered "anti-Maori" if they don't, a new report says.
The Government-funded Te Kotahitanga programme aims to turn around damning Maori education statistics by a range of methods, including putting more emphasis on Maori cultural content and changing teachers' attitudes towards Maori students.
The programme began in 12 schools - including three in Auckland - in 2004 and has since expanded to a further 21. The Government spent $4.1 million on it in the past year.
A study by Massey University education Professor Roger Openshaw, released yesterday and funded by the Post Primary Teachers Association, found that almost half of teachers felt pressured to join the programme.
Dr Openshaw said of the 49 per cent who felt pressured to opt in, 17 per cent said that they had experienced some degree of bullying.
Although some respondents spoke of a "wave of optimism" to opt in, others reported pressure from management, peers or Te Kotahitanga staff.
"Teachers in the early stages of their PD [professional development] made the comment that if you didn't join TK [Te Kotahitanga] that you were anti-Maori," wrote one.
Ministry of Education spokesman Iain Butler said no teachers had complained to the ministry about bullying in relation to the programme and any complaints would be investigated.
Dr Openshaw said it was impossible to show whether improvements in Maori achievement could be attributed to the Te Kotahitanga programme as claimed because so many other initiatives were operating in the schools at the same time.
Ministry professional learning and leadership manager Prue Kyle said it had always considered Te Kotahitanga as one of a series of initiatives. The programme had undergone rigorous academic peer review and an independent evaluation was planned.
She said the 12 schools first included in the programme had reversed lower-than-average pass rates in a year.
In 2005, they had an average of 48 per cent of students getting National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 1. Last year, they averaged 59 per cent, outperforming other schools in their decile range.
She noted the PPTA report's enthusiasm for several aspects of the programme, including the induction hui and student-focused meetings.
PPTA president Robin Duff said the review was timely because the ministry was widening the programme.
"If the Government plans to invest more funding into the Te Kotahitanga project at the expense of other initiatives, it is essential that the project stands up to scrutiny."
