Joint call for quality Maori education | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Maori parents should demand their children get a good education to ensure future opportunities, a Ngati Whakau educator says.

Addressing Minister of Education Hekia Parata during her visit to Rotorua yesterday, Roana Bennett, the manager of Ngati Whakaue's early childhood centre Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue, spoke about the support needed for their children in the schooling system.

"We are prepared to do our bit with language and culture but we expect the schools to do their bit as well," she said.

"Our aim is for our whanau to be engaged with their babies' education, demanding from the schools what we want for our children."

Mrs Bennett said she did not want to see Ngati Whakaue children receiving poor education.

"We don't want to be stuck in a space because they can't get jobs."

Ms Parata talked about the Government's role in supporting Maori culture and language in schools.

She said she loved Ngati Whakaue's passion for their children's education but said they must work in partnership with the State system.

"It is principally your duty to bring up your children in your whakapapa to be proud of who they are and where they come from, and to turn up on time at school five times a week not just two or three," she said.

"It is principally our duty as the Government to engage young learners in ways that are useful and helpful for them to succeed at what they want to do."

Ms Parata said she was very serious about the success of young Maori in schools.

"We have invested $3.5 billion in principals and teachers, we are serious about your children's education."

She said both State educators and Maori had to overcome any bad history when it came to a gap in educational achievement between Maori and Pakeha.

"We need to focus on success and not point the finger at each other. There are no mountains so high that we need to bow our heads."