Minister Stanford’s decision to ban nearly all Māori words from the Ready to Read Phonics Plus books series used in the early years of schooling is part of a wider pattern of whitewashing te reo Māori from education, says New Zealand’s largest education union NZEI Te Riu Roa.
NZEI Te Riu Roa Te Manukura, Ripeka Lessels, says she’s saddened but not surprised by the Government’s decision.
“This is just the latest decision by the Government that tells us English comes first and Māori language and culture is dispensable.”
“This is a Government that took $30 million from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, a highly effective te reo learning programme, to spend it on maths instead. It’s a Government that deprioritised Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the New Zealand Curriculum and the Education and Training Act and scrapped resource teachers of Māori.”
“The excuse is it's too confusing or challenging for kids to decode reo Māori words but this is to justify the real goal of downgrading te reo Māori and Te Tiriti from education.”
Minster Stanford’s decision follows the controversial move to reprint ‘At the Marae’ as a big book, but not as a small book in case the higher number of Māori words presented challenges for those learning to decode words. Ms Lessels says the Government is working at odds with educators, and NZEI Te Riu Roa members want more opportunities to teach reo Māori in the classroom, not less.
“In spite of the Government’s shameful approach, teachers and school leaders are strongly committed to te reo and will continue to honour and uphold it in order to meet their professional responsibilities to give effect to Te Tiriti. The strong support from members calling for more, not less investment, in growing educators’ capabilities and confidence through entitlements in their collective agreements is proof of this.”
“It’s disingenuous for the Minister to say it's because she doesn't want kids to be confused by the inclusion of Māori vowel sounds. It’s absolutely possible to teach children that vowel sounds are different in English and te reo Māori and to use both languages day-to-day. There’s absolutely no conflict with learning reo vowels and structured literacy.”