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Greens zero in on compulsory te reo Māori in schools

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 10 Sep 2018, 5:02AM
The Party will today announce an education sector summit, to work out how they can offer the subject to all tamariki in years one to 10. Photo \ Getty Images
The Party will today announce an education sector summit, to work out how they can offer the subject to all tamariki in years one to 10. Photo \ Getty Images

Greens zero in on compulsory te reo Māori in schools

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 10 Sep 2018, 5:02AM

The Greens are on a mission to sway their coalition partners in favour of te reo Māori as a core curriculum subject by 2025.

The Party will today announce an education sector summit, to work out how they can offer the subject to all tamariki in years one to 10.

Co-leader Marama Davidson says Labour and NZ First have different views - so the Greens are taking the lead.

"Unless we involve schools - schools who already want to step-up - we will actually be at real risk of losing our native language and that would be an absolute travesty."

Marama Davidson says the summit could be held as early as next month.

Another challenge, according to Davidson, will be tackling the shortage of te reo teachers.

"That's going to require government to put some resources into scholarships and incentives," she says.

"But also a marketing plan to make sure that there's actually a campaign alongside the incentives so that people know what's available."

Davidson says the NZEI and PPTA are already onboard.

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