Samoan gets new post at Institute

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 6

Samoan gets new post at Institute

The Christchurch Technical Institute has appointed Miss Louisa Crawley to a new post of “multi-cultural studies co-ordinator.” Miss Crawley, a Samoan living in Christchurch, was selected from about 20 applicants. She will be responsible for planning and running programmes in Polynesian studies, extending existing courses to “reflect our multi-cultural society,” and for liaison with Polynesian groups in the community, as well as other educational organisations and institutions. Since 1971 Miss Crawley has been a teacher at Aranui High School and she is now head of the home economics and clothing department there. She taught for five years at Cashmere High School, and also in Western Samoa and in Australia. The new position was created after recommendations from a special subcommittee of the institute’s council last year.

The institute was approached in 1976 by members of the Polynesian community, worried about the low participation and achievement of Polynesians in existing educational programmes.