End streaming

No matter where we live, all of us want our rangatahi (young people) to thrive at school. We want them to be confident in their culture and ready to determine their own path. 

But right now, an unfair practice that divides and labels tamariki (children) from the very first day they arrive at school is standing in the way of that vision. This practice is known as streaming - often called ‘in-class grouping’ in primary schools and ‘banding’ in secondary schools. 

Being put in the bottom class takes away children’s motivation and self-belief. They begin to think of themselves as less clever or capable. They get less challenging work, expectations are lowered and they fall further and further behind. By the time they get to NCEA, they are told they are not ready to do a full course. Job prospects are reduced to low paid and low skilled work. That’s not fair! And it gets worse. Māori and Pasifika students are more likely to be placed in these bottom groups and ‘cabbage’ classes. Deficit thinking and stereotyping ensure that.

With us on this webinar, we have the team from Tokona Te Raki: Māori Futures Collective – Piripi Prendergast, Tonee Kana-Fakahau, Kaya Staples and Giahnnii Paraku, and teaching professionals on the ground - Misbah Sadat, assistant Principal at Onslow College Wellington, Viv Thompson, Primary Mathematics Facilitator Otago University and Catherine Kelsey, Deputy Principal at Hastings Girls High School.

They will look at why streaming has such negative outcomes for our tamariki, especially Māori and Pasifika. What the changes are that NZ schools are seeing when they end streaming? How we can influence the government to support all schools to transition away from streaming? How we can talk about this issue to people in our school communities?

And we'll be hearing on how things can be done differently and successfully.

Join us on the virtual couch Thursday October 7 from 7 to 8.30pm

This event is in the past watch the recording here

Kia ora!