News

Govt response to Pacific languages disappointing
Originally aired on [|Morning Report, Thursday 20 March 2014] check by date []

Via Twitter 08/03/12 @http://www.hrc.co.nz/newsletters/diversity-action-programme/te-waka-reo/2012/03/pacific-language-forum/ Important Pacific Languages Forum Fickling Centre Auckland Tuesday 27 March -confirm attending to Yara Richmond 

@http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c57d74a255b47d7a9c3eaf18e&id=4a54c4a4be&e=d8ef604f17 Calling all international Bilingual Educators, Pacific Island community leaders, Aiga Pasefika- We need your help in New Zealand and in the Pacific our Pacific languages need your help or our languages will die, please support and spread the word. Highlights from the petition presentation to Parliament.

Petition for Pacific languages and literacy in Bilingual Education presented to NZ Parliament Thursday 4th August (Cook Is Constitution day) Maori party Issues statement of support for Bilingual Leo Pacific's goals for Bilingual Education and Bill to recognise Pacific languages as official languages in NZ @http://www.maoriparty.org/index.php?pag=nw&id=1735&p=maori-party-supporting-pacific-call-on-world-indigenous-day.html

Story 9.8.2011- Stanford University Professor says Mother Tongue education HL / Bilingual Education is good for academic achievement http://www.morsmal.org/uk_english/news/05-06-2011/Morsmål-er-en-ressurs-ikke-et-handikap-2003.html

Released 3/08/2011 Govt claims Pasifika Education Plan shows good progress BUT see the language and cultural goals they have deleted below @http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pasifika-education-plan-shows-good-progress

** Removal of Bilingualism goals from the NZ Pasifika Education (PEP) 2008-2012 – **** //Education Sector Wide// section ** // **Strategies & Actions included:** // // The following actions will be based on creating opportunities for enhancing strong Pasifika languages contributing towards achievement through**:** // // ..Language revitalization means that Pasifika communities continue to seek language in schools which contributes to improving learning outcomes. // // 1. Supporting schools to offer Pasifika language curricula by ensuring adequate teacher supply and that teaching and learning resources are available for all published curricula: // // 2. Support communities to enhance language proficiency as foundation for learning and achievement, maintenance and preservation // // • home to Pasifika bilingual, immersion and mainstream ECE services // // • ECE to schooling // // •within schooling // // •schooling to further study and/or sustainable employment. // // 1) Develop an action plan to: // // • Increase research into effective bilingual pedagogies and language acquisition processes, and explore their implementation in designated bilingual classrooms // // •Increase effective teaching practices for bilingual students through professional learning for teachers in Pasifika bilingual classrooms and English medium classrooms // // • Support the transitions of Pasifika bilingual students (into, within and between Pasifika bilingual ECE services, Pasifika Bilingual classrooms and English medium classrooms. //
 * The new 2009 NZ PEP Plan does Not just simplify the PEP it eliminates crucial goals as follows- **
 * PEP Plan 2008-2012 Goal 15. **// Increase Pasifika families and communities engagement in education and partnerships with school that are focused on achievement. //
 * Strategies included- **// building on strong foundations in language…• being strong in a language **[Pasifika**] on which to base learning a second language…strengthen the relationship between home and school and assist parents to help their children at home with literacy.. //
 * PEP Plan 2008-2012 Goal 16 **// Increase opportunities for building strong Pasifika language foundations through Pasifika language curriculum and resource development. //
 * PEP Plan 2008-2012 Goal 17 **// Increase effective teaching for Pasifika bilingual students in a range of settings. Increase transitions by ensuring there are clear pathways available from**:** //
 * // Strategies & Actions included: //**

// • Be clearly informed by ongoing national and international research on effective pedagogies for monolingual, bilingual and plurilingual students, and evidence-based practices for supporting student outcomes. // // • Include professional learning for teachers within designated Pasifika bilingual classrooms and English medium classrooms (this includes LEAP/ Languages Enhancing Achievement for Pasifika (LEAP tki .org)[ // professional development programme] //and strengthening links with existing professional learning opportunities.// // • Include the development of relevant resources and assessment tools for teachers of bilingual students (including Pasifika bilingual students) across a range of year levels and within Pasifika bilingual classrooms and English medium classrooms. // // •The Ministry of Education to support student’s language learning through strong early Childhood. School community language learning opportunities //
 * // The Plan will: //**
 * ALL goals and strategies now effectively abandoned in the revised 2009-2012 PEP. Now perhaps the Palagi Plan for NZ Pasifika Education(PPEP). **

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 * Historical record only -**
 * Advance Notice -**
 * Unique Petition Presentation to Parliament in Wellington -**

Handed over Petition took place on steps of Parliament. Time: 11 am - 1.30pm Date: Thursday 4th August 2011 A cross political party, cross Pasifika communities cultural Pacific ceremony in the Banquet Hall Parliament

For your formal invitation from Parliament please accept this first invitation with 4th August Parliament in the subject line and notify- bilingualleopacific@gmail.com For further information contact Rachel Panara on phone 028850000301 Over 5000 signatures and still growing have been collected so far.

Aere mai! Fakalataha mai! Haele mai! Me’a mai! Afio mai! Bilingual Leo Pacific Coalition (BLPC) invites you to the Blessing of our
 * ‘Pacific Languages and Literacy Petition’**

Join us Date: Thursday 21st July Venue: AUT Manukau Campus 640 Great South Road, MD Building, Room 210–212, Level 2 Time: 6pm This blessing will initiate the Petition’s journey to Wellington, where it will be presented to Parliament on August 4th RSVP: Email: pacific.leo@hotmail.com

NOTE: Efu Koka is the MC/facilitator and briefly introduce speakers which will take approx 10minutes of whole programme.
 * Blessing Programme**
 * 1) 6pm -Lotu to begin – Rev Lemuelu – 3mins
 * 2) Hymn 1 – (in one of the Pacific languages) –2-3mins
 * 3) Welcome on behalf of AUT Fa’asaulala – 3mins
 * 4) Acknowledgements & speech – Patisepa Tuafuti (on behalf of BLPC)- 3-5mins
 * 5) Brief update on developments of Petition – (Judy/John/Rosa/Melenaite/ & exec members on behalf of BLPC as Petitioners) – 3-5mins
 * 6) Blessing of the Petition – Rev Sione Faitala (in Vagahau Niue with a short summary in English) – 6mins
 * 7) Hymn 2 –(in one of the Pacific languages) – 2- 3mins
 * 8) Comments by Pa Ariki (High Chief Rarotonga) – - 3mins
 * 9) Item by fanau a'oga organized by Faimai – 5mins
 * 10) Thank you speech by BLPC Kaumatua Taonefoou Falesima - 3mins
 * 11) End- mingle, informal, talanoa.