More to teach Maori studies

Press, 29 July 1978, Page 22

More to teach Maori studies

PA Wellington Eight new itinerant teachers of Maori language and studies would join the present staff of 30 such teachers at the beginning of the third term this year, the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) said. Two more teachers would bring the total to 40 at the beginning of the 1979 school year, he said. The scheme to provide itinerant teachers of Maori was approved by the Government in 1975. “The additional 10 teachers will go some way to meet the growing demand in schools

for the scheme to be extended. It will also increase the opportunities of many more primary-school children to learn the basic skills of Maori pronounciation and language," said Mr Gandar. Since the scheme began, 30 people with Maori culture and language skills have been released from classroom duties to provide teaching and resources for five or six schools in their areas.

The teachers help class teachers to become confident in teaching Maori, and are responsible—with the classroom teachers—for programmes prepared by the Department of Education.