Put equality before Maori tradition, Mallard tells principals

4.00pm

Ensuring equality of all students is more important than sticking to Maori traditions, Education and Race Relations Minister Trevor Mallard told school principals today.

Mr Mallard, this year given the task of taking the heat out of the race debate, said girls were relegated to a "supporting role" at some schools he visited.

Principals played a key role in developing and supporting the "culture, ethos and character" of schools, he told a first-time principals induction programme in Wellington.

"We expect the school system to promote the equality of all students, and I am particularly mindful of the hard-fought battle of women for equality across society and the economy."

He said that hit home to him last week when he heard Mareta Taute congratulated by her school - Sacred Heart College in Wellington - for coming runner-up in a national Maori speech competition.

"What ran through my mind was the number of powhiri I attend at co-ed schools where female students - unlike at Sacred Heart College - are relegated to a supporting role.

"While it is important to respect the traditions and place of mana whenua, it is important that this is not at the expense of the ideals and traditions of New Zealand education and its commitment to equality for all."

There also needed to be an "appropriate balance" between the time available for a welcome and the time to be spent with staff and students when dignitaries visit schools, Mr Mallard said.

"It is disappointing when welcomes leave too little time for interaction with the school community, and this does happen from time to time."

Mr Mallard also had issues with the way some immersion or bilingual units at mainstream schools operated.

"In a small number of cases principals have not been able to supervise these units effectively because they have been shut out of the classrooms because they cannot speak Maori.

"This is unacceptable. Principals have to be able to exercise leadership across the school.

"You have responsibilities for the education that your students receive in these units, you have responsibility to spend time in them, to monitor teacher performance and to ensure your education objectives are being achieved."

Mr Mallard encouraged principals to do all they could to encourage physical activity within their schools.

In 2001, 13 per cent of those aged from five to 17 were sedentary, compared with eight per cent in 1997, he said.

The developing picture was not good "not least because of the effects this has on children's health".

- NZPA