Public consultation documents for Aotearoa NZ’s histories released
Kiwi students are another step closer to learning about Aotearoa New Zealand’s history at school, Deputy Secretary for Early Learning and Student Achievement at the Ministry of Education, Ellen MacGregor-Reid says.
"In September 2019, Hon Chris Hipkins announced Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories would be taught in all schools and kura from 2022. This was a response to the growing calls from New Zealanders to know more about our own history and identity.
"This new curriculum content will support akonga to be critical thinkers and understand our past, in order to make sense of the present. They will be learning Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories from a range of people’s perspectives at a local and national level," Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.
The Ministry of Education tested the draft curriculum content for The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa from February 3 to May 31, 2021. Testing was done in school and kura staffrooms, in classrooms, and with the public. Feedback was invited through a survey or general submission.
"The Ministry is pleased to now have the opportunity to share with the public what we heard, what the key themes were and how we’ve responded to that feedback. The diverse feedback that we have heard from New Zealanders has been invaluable, and we appreciate the input from everyone who took the time to support this critical learning for all young people of Aotearoa.
"We’re planning to release the finalised Te Takanga o Te Wā and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories curriculum content in October 2021, in time for kura and schools to start planning how it will be included in their marau a-kura or local curriculum from 2022 onwards.
"Support for teachers, kaiako and leaders is critical. There are a wide range of resources and professional learning supports available now for leaders, kaiako and teachers for use. Implementation supports and resources will continue to be developed and added to over time.
"This is a journey for all of us, and there are many in the community such as Iwi and hapū that are still working out how they would like to work alongside schools and kura to deliver rich learning. The Ministry of Education wants to support effective collaboration and is looking at the best ways to do that, while learning from instances where it is working well.
"There is wider work under way to refresh our national curriculum, which includes The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, over the next five years. The refresh will make sure the national curriculum is clear and easy to use, and is delivering inclusive and equitable learning for all akonga. Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories marks the first step towards the changes in the respective curriculum documents," Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.
Te Takanga o Te Wā will be part of the learning under the Tikanga a-Iwi wahanga ako of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. And Aotearoa New Zealand's histories will be part of the learning under the Social Sciences learning area of The New Zealand Curriculum.
Read the reports: Aotearoa New Zealand's histories and Te Takanga o te Wā
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