Kia ora e te whānau

This week, I attended my first principals’ session of the ‘Tautai o le Moana’ programme.  The programme’s title could well be a metaphor for all principals right now. It means navigating the seas and navigating is exactly what we are all doing. We are riding the covid wave and changing our course as fast as the covid varies its own.

Just as Māori and Pasifika seafarers were tested as they navigated the vast Pacific Ocean, we too are being tested as we captain our ships, through the ups and downs of the pandemic.  Our skills are being tested and sometimes our patience is tested too. Never before have we felt so much pressure - not just leading our schools, but also giving confidence and direction to our communites.      

It is helpful to think about the ‘tautai’ or wayfinders. We sometimes view Māori and Pasifika as ‘Island’ people with very insular experience - just eking out a basic little ‘Island’ existence. We forget that the entire Pacific Ocean was their home for centuries. We forget that they sailed thousands of miles in a lifetime, constantly making new discoveries and facing new challenges.  Key to their success was working together, trusting each other, sharing talents and skills and building a greater and greater repertoire of responses together and having common goals. The key to our success, if we want to get through the Omicron outbreak, is no different.  

Pulling together and sharing expertise is what we have been doing for the past two years, to get through covid, and we know we can do it all for another year.  The difference now is that fatigue has set in.  We will need more skills now and that will include learning to ask for help.  

Get Rid of the Fence

As we have noted before, one thing that COVID has done is expose the deeply embedded inequities in our education system.  Some schools are well prepared to switch from school-based to home-based learning, should they need to.  Some teachers and staff have good digital curriculum knowledge and can adapt to hybrid learning contexts quickly and easily.  Some parents are well placed to accomodate their children learning at home and some students have the skills, resources and agency to adapt and thrive in different learning modes.

That is not every school’s story however and we want all students to be supported, whatever their circumstances. Now is the time to prepare for the worst and make sure that no students miss out. Below are a few steps we can take now so we are not ambushed later when Omicron numbers soar.

Step 1 - Get Connected:
Right now, teachers and staff will be getting to know their new students and those in their classes.  This will include who their friends are, how they like to learn, their interests, talents and strengths. These are important aspects to understand, especially  if, in the future,  learning has to shift from school to home.  

It is also important for students’ social and emotional wellbeing, to be connected and stay connected with other students.  If learning has to happen at home, then create a plan so students can connect with their friends, with the class, the teacher and staff.

Think about your own hauora too. What is your plan, to stay connected with your team, and with colleagues who can support you?

Then update addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. This will save your teachers so much time if you do have to move to home-based learning.

Step 2 – Challenge Inequities starting with the ‘Digital Divide’
We know that if, through covid, there has to be a switch to home-based learning, learning will stop for some. This is why the work teachers are doing now getting to know and understand the circumstances of all their students is so important. It is information that will inform their planning and what goes into home-packs and online learning programmes.

The digital divide is real.  This year, students without access to digital devices and online learning will again be disadvantaged.  I have begun discussions with the MOE to make  provision of digital devices a priority.  We know devices on their own are not the whole answer.  Connectivity issues need to be sorted; there needs to be education in the care and maintenence of devices.  Students and whānau need baseline skills to make online learning work and cyber-safety issues need to be worked through too. 

Equitable access to devices would be the first step in ensuring equitable access to learning.  Lack of devices is a barrier.  We need to get rid of the fence, so the cause of the inequity is removed.

In the meantime, work being done through the Digital Curriculum PLD providers, is supporting staff, students and whānau to develop their digital skills. 

There are many fences in our system that need to be removed.  As the ‘wayfinder’ in your school, keeping every student connected and well supported in their learning is your challenge.  Go well. 

Teaching Council Fees Consultation Process:
Two years ago the Teaching Council set out to increase registration fees for teachers.  This was because the government, who had been subsidising the fees, withdrew their funding.  After the new fee structure had been introduced, the PPTA mounted a legal challenge, which resulted in the Teaching Council reinstating fees as they had been before. 

Legislation has now been passed, so the Teaching Council can increase registration fees.  An independent report by Deloittes has been completed, stating the fees being set are fair and reasonable. 

Part of the fee we pay is for teacher registration.  The larger proportion of the fee covers the cost of the Disciplinary procedures that the Teaching Council oversees. If you wish to comment on the fees, you can do so until 1 April 2022.

Take care as you work your way through this next wave of Omicron and remember to look after yourself. Your students, staff and families will all thank you for it. 

Wondering of the Week:

Results of last week’s poll
How well are your students, staff and community coping with the Covid Protection Framework school protocols you have put in place?

Ngā manaakitanga

Cherie Taylor-Patel

cherie.taylor-patel@nzpf.ac.nz