Te Akatea supports the call from our kindred organisations NZPF, NZEI and Te Runanganui o Nga KKM to implement a one year trial of the National Standards.

National Standards in their current form do not reflect a Maori world view and do not take into account the taha wairua, taha hinengaro which are vital to the success of a child’s learning, particularly but not exclusively Maori children, regardless of whether they are in a kura kaupapa, total immersion, bilingual or mainstream settings.

Te Akatea provides advocacy for Maori leaders in education and support for ensuring that Maori children nationwide reap the benefits of our education system. National Standards may diminish these benefits. There is evidence to show that National Standards have failed to raise student under achievement in other countries.

The haste in which National Standards have been implemented without a trial period is deeply concerning. If the Government is truly concerned about the educational achievement of our tamariki it would be wise for it to listen to the academic experts, professional principal and teacher organisations before rushing head long and perhaps blindly into National Standards.

Te Akatea Maori Principals’ Association strongly endorses the call for a trial period of one year before full implementation of the National Standards.