The Future School Nurturing a sense of identity

The new dimensions of education systems include identity, according to Arihia Stirling, the principal of Nga Tapuwae in Auckland, New Zealand.

The school is one of 50 future-fit schools identified  by Valerie Hannon in a global scan commissioned by the Australian Learning Lecture ahead of its third lecture Seeing is Believing: The Future School is Here.

Centre to the school is strengthening the learner experience.  This was a key design principle held in common by all the future-focussed schools.

But it was especially important for Nga Tapuwaie as the school was concerned that students felt they needed to leave their culture identity behind them when they came to school.

Now the school is made up entirely of students and teachers of Māori Heritage. There is a strong alumni and active parent network. Extensive curriculum pathways are being developed with tertiary institutions in Te Reo Rangatira, sports, science and health, recreation, arts, business studies and technology.

“We believe that to create successful futures, young people need to discover who they are, together with a sense of belonging and a strong and embedded understanding of themselves as Maori,” Ariha Stirling says.

“Our philosophy and emphasis on learners is to enable every student to reach his or her potential by educating them in their own language and cultural values,” Ariha Stirling explains.

View the video here: