The two education ministers have been pressed about how iwi accountability would come into play under a new proposed framework for Aotearoa’s three wānanga.
The Bill proposes changes to the Education and Training Act 2020 that would better recognise the “mana, rangatiratanga, and the unique role that wānanga play” in New Zealand’s tertiary education system.
It proposed a new framework for the three current wānanga – Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and Te Whare o Wānanga Awanuiārangi.
The framework would set out the characteristics that define the wānanga as a collective, create new arrangement for their establishment and disestablishment, and enable wānanga to choose whether they become a Crown or non-Crown entity.
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At the Education and Workforce Select Committee on Wednesday, National MP for Invercargill Penny Simmonds questioned Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis how the responsibilities would be set out.
She asked if there would still be “strict requirements” to be met if New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) were to be accountable.
“The last thing we want is people going into this with any sort of ambiguity,” she said.
Parliament NZ
Education Minister Jan Tinetti and Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis appear before the Education and Workforce Select Committee.
Davis said there would be “very little difference”, as accreditation would remain under NZQA and funding subject to TEC.
However, there would be greater scope for iwi to have their voice heard under the new framework, he said.
“The biggest change is the accountability mechanisms – Crown entities are accountable to the Crown, non-Crown entities will be accountable to the iwi [or] hapu that established those wānanga.”
Supplied
National MP for Invercargill Penny Simmonds raised concerns about potential ambiguity of responsibilities under the new framework. (File photo)
Davis earlier described wānanga as being founded with a “for Māori by Māori approach”.
He said iwi were invested in these wānanga and this would help realise rangatiratanga in the space and give greater recognition of matauranga Māori.
“[Wānanga] just want their people to achieve as well as anyone else and this is a way we believe they can do it on their own terms.”
National MP and party spokesperson for education Erica Stanford also questioned how iwi accountability would be manifested.
Davis said wānanga would be accountable to iwi in terms of making sure the students were achieving. Iwi would make sure the wānanga could operate and run themselves so achievement would occur, he said.
“The iwi will be holding the wānanga to a higher account than they were before.”
SIMON O’CONNOR/Stuff
The Bill proposes a new framework for Aotearoa’s three current wānanga – Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and Te Whare o Wānanga Awanuiārangi. (File photo)
Other changes included in the Bill would see changes to school board eligibility requirements, with people convicted of an offence ineligible to serve on a school board unless an exemption is approved by the Secretary for Education.
It would also separate kura kaupapa Māori from designated character schools, and clarify that early learning service providers, school boards and managers of private schools are required to assess police vets of non-teaching employees before they begin work.
The Bill passed its first reading in the House in March, with submissions having closed on Monday.
