Key Takeaways:
- The Education Ministry warned against removing schools’ Treaty of Waitangi obligations, citing potential conflict and distraction from education goals.
- The government deleted a clause in the Education and Training Act requiring schools to give effect to the treaty, citing it as the Crown’s obligation.
- The ministry report emphasized the importance of reflecting students’ language and culture to achieve good results, particularly for Māori students.
- The report recommended retaining an emphasis on inclusivity in schools, including recognizing and valuing Māori students’ culture and using te reo Māori.
- The Crown has an obligation to support Māori educational success and kaupapa Māori education, according to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Introduction to the Issue
The Education Ministry has released a report that reveals officials strongly advised against removing schools’ Treaty of Waitangi obligations. The report, dated September 19, stated that changing references to the treaty in the Education and Training Act was significant and controversial, and could lead to conflict that would distract from the government’s education goals. This advice was given prior to the government’s surprise decision to delete a clause in the act that required schools to give effect to the treaty. The government claimed that the treaty was the Crown’s obligation, and the clause could be confusing for schools’ governing boards.
The Ministry’s Advice
The ministry report emphasized the importance of reflecting students’ language and culture to achieve good results, particularly for Māori students. The report stated that evidence supported the importance of providing an environment that recognizes and values a Māori student’s culture, and, where possible, uses te reo Māori. The report also noted that the Crown has an obligation to support Māori educational success and kaupapa Māori education, as outlined in the Treaty of Waitangi. The ministry recommended retaining an emphasis on inclusivity in schools, including providing an environment that recognizes and values a Māori student’s culture, and, where possible, uses te reo Māori.
The Role of the Treaty in Education
The report highlighted the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi in education, stating that the treaty’s articles are relevant to education in multiple ways. The Crown has an obligation to support Māori educational success and to support kaupapa Māori education. The report also noted that the education system includes multiple taonga, and the Crown is obliged to ensure Māori have the right to make decisions over resources and taonga they wish to maintain. Officials had discussed the Act’s treaty references with the Education Minister’s Māori advisory group, which emphasized the importance of high-level Tiriti clauses in legislation as a signal to Māori of the Crown’s intentions.
The Importance of Cultural Responsiveness
The report emphasized the importance of cultural responsiveness in education, stating that learning in an environment where a culturally responsive pedagogy is the norm significantly improves outcomes for Māori. The report noted that ensuring te reo and tikanga Māori are supported in schools is good for Māori students’ achievement. The government’s reforms to introduce a more knowledge-rich curriculum, regulate the teaching profession, and schools’ accountability for their outcomes would also benefit Māori learners. The report highlighted the need for the Crown to work in good faith with Māori on the development of treaty references, and to ensure that Māori have a voice in the education system.
Conclusion and Implications
The Education Ministry’s report highlights the importance of retaining schools’ Treaty of Waitangi obligations and emphasizing inclusivity in schools. The report’s findings and recommendations have significant implications for the education system and the government’s approach to Māori education. The deletion of the clause in the Education and Training Act has sparked controversy and debate, with many arguing that it undermines the Crown’s obligations to Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. As the government moves forward with its education reforms, it is essential that it prioritizes cultural responsiveness and inclusivity, and works in good faith with Māori to ensure that the education system is equitable and effective for all students.