New Bachelor of Education Programme

New Bachelor of Education Programme Receives Commendations in NZQA Teaching Council Review 

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (TWWoA) was honored to receive two commendations from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Teaching Council for its new Bachelor of Education programme, Te Tohu Paetahi Ako.

The programme garnered praise for its commitment to integrating and encapsulating mātauranga Māori (knowledge), and extensive stakeholder consultations - two crucial elements in fortifying its programme delivery. This NZQA acknowledgment solidifies the programme's standing as a leader in teacher education. 

Tania Doherty, the National Programme Coordinator, explains: “Interweaving Te Reo (language), mātauranga Māori and tikanga (cultural customs) throughout every course is deliberate and as such tauira (students) are provided opportunities to meld this into everything that they do. One of our points of difference is that every team member in our degree can provide acceleration and extension with language, knowledge and culture at the forefront.”  

Tania points out that the dedication to these principles extends beyond the Bachelor of Education team. “Our expertise is strengthened by the extraordinarily high level of Te Reo, mātauranga Māori and tikanga of our whānau here at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. It is unequivocally spearheaded by our leadership, by our professors and senior lecturers, as well as our colleagues, governors and in our communities. It is with this immense capacity and capability that the ethos of our Wānanga is upheld as a living practice.” 
 

Involving the wider teaching community in programme development was essential. “Stakeholder consultation meant we could dive deep into the detail because they know what great looks like, sounds like and feels like. That open, honest feedback has helped us deliver an exceptional programme.” NZQA evaluator feedback states: “Due to the evidence provided, NZQA has no recommendations and no requirements for this degree. Thank you for sharing your taonga with NZQA, and particularly with me.  I wish I went through this programme in the early seventies when I began my teaching programme.”  

Tania responds: “It is the greatest compliment to have highly skilled educators remark that if they could study again, this would be the degree that they would enrol in. That is significant. I must acknowledge, New Zealand Education Consultant, Wayne Gribble and my team for their commitment and contributions to this successful outcome."  

Earning the two commendations is a historic milestone for Awanuiārangi, recognising that such accolades are infrequent and exceptional. As a flagship programme for the Aotearoa teaching profession, Te Tohu Paetahi Ako will nurture a cohort of graduates ready to positively impact the lives of the tamariki (children) they teach. It is a true testament to the dedication of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in shaping the future of educational excellence in Aotearoa.