Kura kaupapa Māori: Preparing graduates to live as Māori in the world today

Abstract

Preparing graduates from the first kura kaupapa Māori to participate in the wider world. Kura kaupapa Māori are a unique New Zealand primary school education system in which children are immersed in a Māori language and cultural environment with the aim of enabling graduates to ‘live as Māori’ and to make positive contributions as bilingual and bicultural citizens to New Zealand society and to the wider world. Narratives from some of the graduates from the first kura established in Auckland between 1984-1989, provide information about the learning of English language literacy skills, part of the goal of attaining bilingualism. In the early days of kura, classrooms were set up specifically for the teaching of English and placed apart from the main teaching areas to ensure the students’ Māori language was kept intact. The graduates share their varied experiences of learning English at kura and express a recognition of the benefits of being skilled in the literacies of both Māori and the English language. For the majority of the graduates it has been the Māori language knowledge that has secured them employment in television, teaching and, for those who have chosen the academic world, their Māori and bicultural knowledge has provided valuable understandings and insight for study and associated work. As bilingual and bicultural adults the graduates demonstrate self-confidence, self-determination and the ability to advance their talents to high levels of achievement. This presentation will interest all those who work or study in indigenous education, and particularly those curious about the place of English literacy in indigenous language education.