Promising Results from Four-Year Te Kotahitanga Journey
by Jacqui Gibson
- Comments (0)
- Comment on this article
Overview
In this article, Massey High School principal Bruce Ritchie and Te Kotahitanga lead facilitator Robin Knox reflect on their 4-year journey implementing Te Kotahitanga at their urban high school in West Auckland. They reflect on the school's improving NCEA results and the programme’s emphasis on effective teaching and making culture count within the classroom. The article fits in well with much of the best evidence work emphasising effective teacher professional learning, a key theme in Kiwi Leadership for Principals.
Te Kotahitanga (meaning unity) is a research and professional development programme for teachers of students in years 9 and 10. It is part of the Ministry of Education’s Te Tere Auraki professional development strategy to improve teaching practice and the engagement and achievement of Māori learners in English-medium settings.
Te Kotahitanga sits alongside other Te Tere Auraki programmes such as Te Kauhua, Te Hiringa i te Mahara, and Te Mana Kōrero. It has an explicit focus on improving teaching practice and improving the interaction and quality of relationships between teachers and whānau. It continues to make a significant contribution to the evidence base about the teaching practice that works well for and with Māori learners.
For example, in 2006 the Education Review Office (ERO) noted the positive impact of Te Kotahitanga on teaching and relationships within the schools.
Test results from asTTle show significant growth in Māori learner achievement for schools participating in Te Kotahitanga, in some cases twice the expected gain. Learner achievement results were more significant where Te Kotahitanga teachers were also involved in the numeracy or literacy professional development programmes.
Research on 12 Te Kotahitanga schools shows NCEA Level 1 achievement rates increased from 49 per cent in 2005 to 60 per cent in 2006 and 62 per cent in 2007 for all learners in year 11 taught by Te Kotahitanga teachers for all their secondary schooling. This increase is significantly greater than the increase for similar (same decile) schools nationally.
The research also shows fewer learners whose teachers were engaged in Te Kotahitanga had unexplained absences from school, more learners were engaged, and more said their relationships with teachers had improved.
The success of Te Kotahitanga makes it critical to deepening understanding of what works for improving teaching practices and how these impact on Māori education success.
Reflective questions
These questions might guide you as you read the article:
- Embedding Te Kotahitanga into the life of Massey High School has been an important focus for Bruce and Robin to ensure the programme is sustainable and involves all staff. How could you integrate the principles and approach of Te Kotahitanga into the teaching and learning environment in your school? Who would help you achieve that goal, and why?
- Te Kotahitanga focuses on students in years 9 and 10. Identify the support you have available for your year 9 and 10 learners. Could it be strengthened and improved this year?
- Robin talks about teachers at her school continuing to build on and improve their knowledge of things Māori. In what ways could you support your teachers to do the same? Could your wider school community contribute to your teachers’ understanding of culture and how it might be expressed in the classroom?
Further reading
Education Counts Te Kotahitanga homepage. Read the Phase 1, 2, and 3 research reports on the programme.
Ngā Haeata Mātauranga The Annual Report on Māori Education. Read the latest evidence and data relating to Māori education. This year’s report starts the process of reporting on Ka Hikitia Managing for Success Māori Education Strategy 2008–2012, which sets out the Ministry’s strategic approach to achieving education success for, and with, Māori.
Reference
Ministry of Education. (February 2009) Ngā Haeata Mātauranga The Annual Report on Māori Education, 2007/08. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
Tags: Māori student achievement
Readers' comments
There are no comments.
Post a comment
Not registered? Register now to comment.
