Change your career and teach in te reo Māori
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If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a teacher and want to learn to teach using te reo Māori, now is the time to go for it. The combination of generous TeachNZ scholarships and the expertise of The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education can help you gain a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori qualification. This will get you into the classroom where you can make a real difference for our tamariki and rangitahi.
Māori speaking teachers are powerful role models, so TeachNZ is continuing to provide scholarship assistance in 2010 so that more are qualified to teach in te reo Māori and in mainstream schools. You could make the most of your previous career or volunteer experience and your fluency in te reo Māori to apply for a scholarship worth $30,000 per year for three years - plus tuition fees. That’s more than $100,000 over three years of tertiary study. As long as you have six years of work experience (paid or voluntary) under your belt and meet the criteria for the scholarship and the entry requirements for the degree programme, the scholarship can pay you a salary while you study.
Applications for the 30K Career Changer scholarships are open now and close on 16 November. That means that you need to act now if you wish to apply. This year there is no proficiency examination. Scholarships are based on merit – so you need to provide evidence of your academic achievement and paid work experience. Other volunteer experience such as coaching, work in schools, leadership roles in the community or responsibilities on the marae are also considered.
There is a real need in the community for teachers who can teach in Māori medium or bilingual schools and classrooms. If you are awarded a scholarship you will be bonded to teach for three years when you finish your degree, but the qualification you earn will also place you in hot demand.
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s top ranked university, and we’re here to help if you’re interested in applying for a scholarship. Almost half of the successful scholarship recipients in 2009 for te reo Māori teaching chose to study at The University of Auckland.
Rihari Wilson (Te Wai-o-hua, Ngati Whatua, Ngati Porou, Rarotonga ki Tahiti) is in his final year of studying for a BEd(Tchg) Huarahi Māori specialisation and this year received three job offers while on practical experience in Auckland schools. He has accepted a position in South Auckland to set up a bilingual unit at a primary school once he completes his degree.
“I decided to become a teacher after realising how influential my own primary teachers had been in my life,” says Rihari.
“My grandfather was a teacher and I have several teachers in my extended family so I guess teaching is in my blood. As a male Māori, I realise that I have a unique opportunity to make a difference and look forward to doing that. It’s such a cool feeling to see kids ‘click’ when they understand and see something new”.
Find out more about the Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori programme.
