Tackling racism to realise the potential of Māori learners

<h2>M&amacr;ori learners will be supported to achieve success in education with new investment that will address racism and bias across the system and support wh&amacr;nau to better engage in learning&comma; Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>The Wellbeing Budget has invested &dollar;42 million over three years in Te Hurihanganui – a new initiative that builds on the previously successful Te Kotahitanga programme&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The education system has underserved M&amacr;ori learners&period; Te Hurihanganui will boost the capability of the education workforce to better support M&amacr;ori achievement&comma; and transform the learning experiences of M&amacr;ori students&comma;” Kelvin Davis said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The Wellbeing Budget is about taking on long-term challenges&comma; and we are committed to improving the outcomes and experience for M&amacr;ori kids and their wh&amacr;nau&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We receive consistent feedback that M&amacr;ori students and their wh&amacr;nau experience racism and bias in schools&comma; impacting on their achievement&period; Feedback supported by evidence&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3>In 2018 the Ministry of Education worked with a team of experts&comma; chaired by Professor Mere Berryman&comma; to develop Te Hurihanganui&period;<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Through this work&comma; we decided to not simply restart Te Kotahitanga as it was&comma; but to develop an evidence-based approach focused on what works for M&amacr;ori learners and their wh&amacr;nau&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;There are two critical factors in supporting M&amacr;ori learners&colon; high quality teaching that reflects culture and identity&comma; and strong engagement from wh&amacr;nau and the wider community&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<&sol;blockquote>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;This initiative addresses both of these factors&period; We will work with schools&comma; wh&amacr;nau and communities at the same time &&num;8211&semi; supporting communities to build strong relationships with schools&comma; and supporting schools to strengthen their daily practice to ensure our system supports M&amacr;ori success&comma;” Kelvin Davis said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Te Hurihanganui is set to be tested across six communities over three years&period; Detailed implementation planning will start later this year in partnership with the participating communities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;