Te Kotahitanga Programme

Te Kotahitanga

Te Kotahitanga is a collaborative response to the rising problem of underachievement among Māori students in mainstream schools. As part of this professional development/research project, which began in 2001, the University of Waikato research team, lead by Professor Russell Bishop and Mere Berrryman, developed an Effective Teaching Profile based on suggestions made by Māori students, their parents, their teachers and principals as well as international literature.

The research shows that effective teachers of Māori students create a culturally appropriate and responsive learning environment that includes each of the following:
·         Manaakitanga
(Teachers care for Māori students as culturally located human beings)
·         Mana Motuhake
(Teachers care for the performance and learning of Māori students)
·         Ngā Whakapiringatanga
(Teachers can create and maintain a secure, well-managed learning environment)
·         Wānanga
(Teachers are able to engage in effective teaching interactions with Māori students so that Māori students can bring their own prior experiences to their learning.)
·         Ako
(Teachers can use a range of strategies that promote effective teaching and learning interactions with their students. )
·         Kotahitanga
(Teachers promote, monitor and reflect on outcomes that in turn lead to improvements in educational achievement for Māori students.)
 
Participating teachers work with in school facilitators through a process called the Mahi Tahi. This involves an initial training hui, supported by termly in class observations, follow up feedback and reflection conversations, goal setting and shadow coaching. Each teacher is also then involved in core class or co-construction hui that focus on using student achievement data to reflect on progress made and inform future planning.