蘑菇短视频

New Zealand鈥檚 government is making big changes to its education system. The aim is to reverse declining student achievement and give more opportunities to disadvantaged children. The subjects of reading, writing, maths and science form the core of the new curriculum. But there are concerns particularly among the Indigenous community that the M膩ori language, culture and identity have not been considered as an integral part of the reforms. And that in the longer term, a lack of access to Indigenous teaching might have repercussions beyond the classroom, in wider society.

This is not just an issue for New Zealand, decisions on heritage-based learning are of concern for Indigenous populations across the world. In Canada鈥檚 public school system, whilst courses in Indigenous knowledge are not mandatory, there are concerted efforts to include Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum. In the province of Ontario, children from kindergarten age up to the age of 15 to 16, learn about their Indigenous communities. However, it鈥檚 not the same story everywhere, so is Indigenous education at risk?

(Photo: Six children sitting on the floor of a classroom with their backs facing the camera listening to their teacher, Auckland, New Zealand. Credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Contributors:
Dr Mere Skerrett, associate professor, school of education, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Dame Elizabeth Rata, professor of education and social practice, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Dr Lindsay Morcom, professor and Canada Research Chair in language revitalisation and decolonising education, faculty of education, Queen鈥檚 University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Dr Liana MacDonald, associate professor of peace studies and co-director of The National Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier
Producers: Evie Yabsley and Jill Collins
Researcher: Amelia Cox
Technical producer: Nathaniel Danter
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas
Production management assistant: Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood