Home About

"Need to be able to identify high concentration Pacific people and supporting them to represent their communities on B.O.T. in schools to be able to help push any awareness of the Pacific students and their needs and wants."

"Can smaller town Pacific communities also be remembered for Pacific resources which would normally be full in bigger cities?"

Would there also be targeted support to support the different needs from each individual Pacific nation - as opposed to addressing us as a whole.  E.g. Cook Islands teachings, Tokelau teachings, Samoan, Fijian etc.?

Are these important to you?

  • All groups agreed with the proposed areas of focus
  • A couple of comments about making a commitment to support and focus on dying/endangered languages in the curriculum and one comment suggesting there is not enough people to participate in bilingual education
  • There needs to be more focus on individual Pacific Island cultures, ethnicities and languages 

Is there something missing? What would you change about the areas?

  • More representation on school boards to influence change – working out how to build capacity and capability to be ready to be involved, especially given any changes from Tomorrow’s Schools
  • Making endangered languages part of the curriculum
  • A focus on supporting the smaller realm countries facing the complexities of climate change
  • The digital divide – those who can afford Wi-Fi and technology and those who can’t
  • Identify high concentration Pacific people and supporting them to represent their communities on boards of trustees
  • Acknowledge each diverse Pacific ethnic group and their needs
  • Include parents in subject choices rather than just teachers
  • Remember smaller town Pacific communities for resources, not just big cities – “We have smaller populations but we have the same needs. 

Questions

  • Will there be targeted support to support the different needs of each Pacific nation rather than pan-Pacific solutions?
  • Are there any programmes to teach Pacific students skills to deal with climate change in the Pacific?

Most common indicators of success (in order)

  • Pacific learners faiths and beliefs and cultures are valued in education
  • Pacific learners can learn about their culture and heritage
  • Pacific learners names and pronouns are used correctly
  • There are no financial barriers to accessing education for Pacific learners and families
  • Pacific learners and their families feel that their subject choices lead to good opportunities for the future

Rotorua Fono Summary [PDF]