<
https://theconversation.com/removing-treaty-responsibility-from-school-boards-undoes-decades-of-progress-267733>
"Te Pāti Māori’s descent into personality politics meant it missed the
government’s recent announcement about changing school board obligations under
te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi.
This is important: like last month’s refendums on Māori wards in local
government, which the party also seemed not to notice, the schools issue goes
to the heart of its mission: to achieve mana motuhake (self-determination) and
to uphold
te Tiriti.
As it currently stands, the
Education and Training Act 2020 requires school
boards of trustees to “give effect” to
te Tiriti o Waitangi. But according to
Education Minister Erica Stanford, this has been too onerous an obligation for
the country’s roughly 2,500 self-governing schools.
She implied the
Treaty requirement was not central to educational outcomes,
saying of school boards:
Their focus should be on the practical things that make a difference for
students: ensuring children are turning up to school, progressing in their
learning, and succeeding.
While
Treaty obligations “sit with the Crown”, Stanford argued, schools must
still ensure equitable outcomes for Māori, offer the Māori language and be
culturally competent.
But removing the overall
Treaty element from their governance requirements
means schools will now not be obliged to work with their communities to ensure
local tikanga (culture) is recognised to achieve those goals.
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour has
also said the Māori language will only need to be taught to those who request
it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
