12 Pathways for Maori Education - Maori Added Pathways

Most Mäori children do not participate in Mäori centred educational pathways. Instead they attend schools, polytechnics and universities where a Mäori dimension is added onto an existing framework - the Mäori added pathway. The Mäori dimension may exist as a relatively autonomous unit within the wider institution or may be integrated into all aspects of the operation. But one way or another a Mäori stream is introduced. Some argue that it is too little, even tokenistic, while others complain that it is too much and that things Mäori are forced on the wider population for little purpose. But, compared to 1975, there has been a huge attitudinal shift and a demonstration that a Mäori agenda can not simply be tolerated but even encouraged within a regular state school. Whether the Mäori dimension can survive without unreserved commitment from the institution as a whole is another matter. If it lacks critical mass, adequate space, sufficient curriculum time, or community support it might be forever fighting fires and seldom planning for future development. Nonetheless, it is in the Mäori added pathways that most Maori pupils and students are to be found so the issue of viability is of great importance.