CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ka Hikitia – Implications and Implementation

Facilitator:Colleen Douglas

http://ced.massey.ac.nz

Ka hikitia

• Ka Hikitia means to step up, to lift up or to lengthen one’s stride

• In this document it means stepping up the performance of the education system to ensure Maori are enjoying success as Maori

The Challenge

It means making Maori education success the highest priority and doing everything we can, as part of an education sector committed to ensuring all learners succeed, to realise Maori potential in all that we do

Karen Sewell

Stepping Up

Ownership

Leadership

Accountability

Change from deficit model to

maximisimg potential

Why focus on Maori learners?

• Maori success = New Zealand success

• Maori student success = teachers’ success

• Maori student failure = ????

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The strategic outcome …

Maori enjoying education

success as Maori

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Maori potential in educationˉ

Less focus on: More focus on:

Remedying deficit Realising potential

Problems of dysfunction

Identifying opportunity

Government intervention

Investing in people and local solutions

Targeting deficit Tailoring education to the learner

Maori as minority Indigeneity and distinctiveness

Instructing and informing

Collaborating and co-constructing

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Three key principles:

1. Maori potential

2. Cultural advantage

3. Inherent capability

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Ako

The key to realising Maori education potential is ako.

Key aspects of ako are:• Language, identity and culture.• Knowing where students come from and building

on what they bring count• Productive partnerships. Students, whānau, iwi

and educators working together to produce better outcomes

Maori enjoying education success as Maori:

• Maori learners working with others to determine successful learning and education pathways

• Maori learners excelling and successfully realising their cultural distinctiveness and potential

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and …

• Maori learners successfully participating in and contributing to te ao Maori

• Maori learners gaining the universal skills and knowledge needed to successfully participate in and contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.

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The four focus areas of Ka Hikitia:1. Foundation years

2. Young people engaged in learning

3. Maori language education

4. Organisational success

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What works well for learners?

• Professional leaders who lead professional learning, build partnerships with Maori communities and use data to manage change

• Effective teaching where there are high expectations of, and strong learning relationships between teachers, students, families and whanau

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Traditional Western approach to teaching:

• What?

• Why?

• How?• Who? (if indeed it is considered at all)

Traditional Maori approach to teaching:

• Who? (connections)

• Why? (purpose)

• How? (methodology)

• What? (knowledge)

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Knowing who you are

• Self esteem is critical to learning

• Governs receptivity, preparedness and

capacity for learning

• Anchors learning

Culturally enhanced learning environment

Personal vs Impersonal

• Making connections – Maori learners• Who are you?• Where are you from?• Are you really interested in me?• Can I trust you?• Do you really care?• Should I follow you?

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and …

• The personal approach will work for all learners

• But the fact is an impersonal one will not work for Maoriˉ

Creating a culturally responsive classroom

• Teachers who value and support cultural diversity

• Programmes that incorporate cultural knowledge, experiences and values

• Teaching and assessment that utilises culturally preferred ways of learning – peer tutoring, collaborative learning and student involvement in decision making

Bevan Brown 2008

So …

Ka Hikitia is not seeking a

special response …

but rather a professional response