Pre-school Education

Kindergartens and play-centres are open to Maori and European children alike and can be established under the same conditions. Since the Maori Education Foundation was established in 1961, it has encouraged Maori parents to use existing facilities and to form new groups in rural areas.

Primary Education

In 1964 there were 9,477 Maori pupils attending 135 Maori primary schools. Another 42,376 Maoris attended some 1,300 Board schools and approximately 3,029 attended private schools. The rapid growth of Maori population is shown in the following table.

Between 1950 and 1962 the number of Maoris in Maori schools increased by 112 only, while those in public schools increased by 17,687.

Staffing

Teachers in the Maori service are employed under the same salary and appointment regulations as teachers in Board schools. Because the head teacher and his wife are often required to enter into the social and welfare activities of Maori communities, preference in appointments is given to married teaching couples. Junior assistants – mainly young Maori women with secondary education – are also appointed to Maori schools.

The Primary School Curriculum

The chief difference between the curriculum of Maori and public schools is one of emphasis on some aspects of health, music, and arts and crafts. Board schools, with predominantly Maori rolls, are now also stressing Maori cultural activities, and the Department has issued to all schools a manual on the traditional arts of the Maori.

Post-primary Education

As the number of Maori village schools established by the Government increased, many of the private denominational schools withdrew from primary and concentrated on post-primary education. As the Government was not anxious to build secondary schools of its own, a system of scholarships was established to enable pupils in remote areas to board at denominational schools.

The establishment of district high schools in country areas and the migration to urban areas have resulted in steadily mounting numbers of Maoris attending State post-primary schools.

Concern has been expressed at the relatively small proportion of Maoris who have taken academic courses and continued their education in the fifth and sixth forms, but there are definite indications that the situation is improving.

The following table illustrates the rate of increase in the number of Maoris proceeding to post-primary schools.

The Post-primary Curriculum

Since the great majority of Maoris attend public schools, they have the same curriculum as Pakeha students – the “core” subjects and a choice of subjects for School Certificate. In the private schools and Maori district high schools, greater emphasis is placed on arts and crafts, and an increasing number include the Maori language in their timetables.

University and Teacher College Education

The proportionately lower number of Maoris proceeding to the upper forms of post-primary schools is reflected in the numbers enrolled at the University. Nevertheless, increasing numbers are graduating and entering a variety of professions. There are usually about 100 Maori students being trained at teachers' colleges.

Pre-apprentice Training

Pre-apprentice training schemes for Maori youths have met with marked success. Courses are available at technical institutes in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Trades served at present include carpentry, electrical wiring, motor mechanics, painting and decorating, and panelbeating. When suitable boys are seeking training, a course is also offered in plumbing.

Financial Assistance

Various post-primary and university scholarships are available for Maori students, and other financial assistance is provided by the Department of Maori Affairs and Trust Boards. In this respect the Maori Education Foundation encourages and assists increasing numbers of capable young Maoris to reach higher educational levels in both the academic and technical fields.

The future will undoubtedly bring important changes in administration, organisation, curricula, and methods of teaching, but the outlook for Maori education is a very promising one. It can be confidently anticipated that the passing years will record marked progress in every aspect of educational endeavour.

by Raymond Leopold Bradly, M.A., DIP.ED., Regional Superintendent of Education (Auckland), Department of Education.

Pre-Colonisation Period

Before the coming of Europeans to New Zealand, the education of Maori children was shared by home and community. From their grandparents and parents they learnt the language and standards of behaviour. In the community they developed skill in fishing, hunting, gardening, house-building, cooking, mat-making, and basketry. The more difficult arts of wood-carving and tattooing were taught by experts while instruction in tribal law was given to the sons of chiefs and priests in a building known as the “whare-wananga”.