School Relationship Initiatives and Te Kete o Aoraki
Brief History
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and the Ministry of Education have a formalised education relationship, initiated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2001. The main objective of this MoU is to work towards improved education outcomes for Ngai Tahu students within the tribal takiwa.
As a result of the MoU, the Te Kete o Aoraki manual was published to assist schools to meet their obligations. To support the implementation of the manual a number of initiatives were undertaken throughout the South Island, supported by funding from the Ministry of Education.
Otago Initiatives.
In April 2005 Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki and Otakou Runaka established a joint contract for a Te Kete o Aoraki facilitator. An experienced educationalist, Tamatea Smith, was appointed to work directly with schools and others in the education profession. This role continued until early 2008.
The facilitator's work was focussed on three main areas.
1 Developing purposeful relationships to achieve shared outcomes for Ngai Tahu and Maori students.
2 Improving the content and delivery of a Ngai Tahu based curriculum including te reo ma ona tikanga
3 Improving Ngai Tahu / Maori student achievement as indicated within the Te Kete o Aoraki document.
Working Alongside Others.
Over the last three years the facilitator worked alongside others within the education sector leading to a Wananga Whakakotahi in October 2007 which provided a platform for the various providers to share their mahi (work) with other providers and with principals, teachers and whanau.Included in this networking were:-
1 Local and Regional Ministry of Education staff including Group Special Education and the Pouwhakataki.
2 Otago University College of Education Support Staff
3 The Resource Teachers of Maori
4 Dunedin LEOTC teachers
For wananga presentations click here
Where To Next.
A new phase of school relationships with a revised focus will be initiated within the next few months. Further details about this will be available later in 2008.
