Tapasā PLD: Helping educators connect with Pacific learners

Tapasā is built in large part on three broad competencies or turu. In short, these are:

• Awareness of the diverse identities, languages and cultures of Pacific learners
• Building strong and collaborative relationships between educators, families and communities
• Pedagogies that are effective for Pacific learners

“Because education is connected to health, housing, employment and so on, improving educational outcomes for Pacific people is about social justice, equity and fairness, yes, but it would be an economic driver too,” says Tanya Samu, a team member and senior lecturer in education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

To accommodate varying needs and goals between schools and within each sector, Tui Tuia is providing bespoke PLD.

“If you’re in Oamaru, which has in recent years seen a significant increase in the Tongan population, you might need to learn more about Tongan culture,” says Samu. “If you’re a teacher in Pukekohe, which has a large Kiribati community, you’d need to learn about that non-Polynesian culture so you can engage with your specific Pacific learners.”

Though the PLD is co-designed with each ELS and school, there are commonalities. These include having educators examine their understandings of culture, language and identity; their relationships with children and students inside and outside the classroom; and their relationships with the students’ families.

“When our participants reach the goals they’ve set for themselves, that’s when we’ll know we’ve succeeded.”

Jacoba Matapo,
Associate Professor,
Auckland University of Technology

“Our solution is about co-designing the whole process with our participants,” says Associate Professor Jacoba Matapo of Auckland University of Technology, a team member. “When our participants reach the goals they’ve set for themselves, that’s when we’ll know we’ve succeeded.”

Tui Tuia, in partnership with Tautai o le Moana, began offering PLD on Tapasā to ELS and schools across New Zealand in 2022. Early feedback has been positive, with one school senior leader saying:

“Our teachers and school are loving working on the Tapasā project with the Tui Tuia team! We are inspired by the bespoke programme that is being curated to meet our context. Thank you for the respectful and skilled manner in which you are guiding us on our journey.”

Twenty-five schools and ELS participated in Tapasā PLD in 2022, with that cohort finishing with the programme in April/May 2023. Some 45 schools and ELS are expected to begin in 2023.

“This project is a chance to work with teachers and leaders to ensure that they’re not only supportive of the dreams and aspirations of our people, but also that they’re challenged to lift their game,” says Gaugatao.