Te Reo Learning in Schools - One Opinion

Sylvia from Leamington

I applaud the effort to explore this topic but feel the research question was too narrow to provide a useful answer. Which schools - all, primary, intermediate, or secondary? Will each level have a set curriculum? Will 'standards' be set? And - most importantly - who is going to teach it

I am in favour of making te reo compulsory in primary schools, with a designated basic curriculum, as long as each class has a teacher confident enough with the language to use it in the classroom on a daily basis. In this way, students can become as familiar with and comfortable using and learning te reo as they do developing their English language skills.

Children learn a language much faster when they are young and, with encouragement, they will continue using the language on a daily basis both in and out of school without the fear of making an error - which is a factor that prevents many adults giving it a go. More advanced te reo could build on this base at intermediate and secondary schools - as an option alongside other languages - if qualified teachers are available.
Making te reo a normal, integrated part of their daily lives will result in many of the fears and concerns of our adult population diminishing over time. Then maybe NZ can be as cosmopolitan as most other countries in the world. There are very few where only one language is spoken.