Most New Zealand schools have several cultures represented on their rolls and do well embracing this diversity and valuing each student and family in their community. Schools celebrate their different cultures in various ways throughout the year, and most of the comments from reviewers were very positive.
This topic was reviewed in the first term this year by board, staff, and parents.
Most New Zealand schools have several cultures represented on their rolls and do well embracing this diversity and valuing each student and family in their community. Schools celebrate their different cultures in various ways throughout the year, and most of the comments from reviewers were very positive.
Reviewers gave the content high marks generally and felt that it was clear and thorough. Reviewers were less happy with the implementation of the policy, however, and we urge school principals and boards to look at their implementation reviews and discuss the matters raised.
Several schools have non-generic versions of this topic and other schools may wish to in the light of their implementation review. There is no customisation charge for this, it is part of the standard SchoolDocs offering and asked about in the tailoring questionnaire.
Some reviewers felt that Maori culture was overemphasised and that the content failed to acknowledge all cultures and people as equal in New Zealand. The fact is that Maori has a special place in New Zealand – to quote from the New Zealand Curriculum online: Te reo Māori is indigenous to Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a taonga recognised under the Treaty of Waitangi, a primary source of our nation’s self-knowledge and identity, and an official language. By understanding and using te reo Māori, New Zealanders become more aware of the role played by the indigenous language and culture in defining and asserting our point of difference in the wider world.
At SchoolDocs we acknowledge that while each individual has equal rights and status in New Zealand, our Maori culture has a unique position, and schools have legal requirements and specific goals relating to Maori students. These must be reflected in each school’s policy or ERO will certainly notice.
The SchoolDocs topic lists ways in which schools recognise cultural diversity; feel free to email us specific ways you celebrate at your school and we will include these on your site.
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