Kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina schools

Indicator Description

The number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina schools.

What We Have Found

Although there has been very little growth in the number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina schools in recent years, the number of students in kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina continues to increase.

Why This Is Important

A kura kaupapa Māori school is a State school where teaching is in the Māori language and the school's aims, purposes and objectives reflect the Te Aho Matua philosophy.

A kura teina is an initiative by a community which wants to become a kura kaupapa Māori.  During the establishment phase the kura teina is "attached" to, and mentored by, an established high performing kura kaupapa Māori (referred to as the kura tuakana).

Active participation by Māori in planning, development and delivery of education services will ensure that those services are appropriate and effective for Māori.  Māori provider development is one key mechanism for participation.  Other mechanisms include Māori representation on Boards of Trustees, and Māori workforce development.

How We Are Going

Since 1992 there has been a 5.6-fold increase in the number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina, from 13 in 1992 to 73 such schools in 2008.  The most dramatic increase in the number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina occurred during the 1990s.  Since then the growth rate has slowed with a 4.3% increase in the number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina since 2002.

Number of kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina schools (1992 to 2008)

Note:

1. Prior to 2001 kura teina were not counted as separate schools.

Over the same period of slow growth the number of students in kura kaupapa Māori and kura teina has increased by 14%, from 5,428 in 2002 to 6,189 in 2008.  This compares with an 8.4% increase in the total Māori school student population over the same period.  If this trend continues then there will be a further increase in the demand for teachers who are able teach the entire curriculum in Māori; an area where there is already a shortage of teachers.

Where To Find Out More

To obtain further information on Māori participation in providing education services, consider indicator:

• School Trustees who are Māori

References

Ministry of Education (2009). Ngā Haeata Mātauranga - Annual Report on Māori Education 2006/07. Wellington, Ministry of Education.

Related Pages on Education Counts

The July School Roll Return data collection page provides links to data, publications and indicators based on that collection.