Student action prompts Witt review

A survey undertaken by a Taranaki polytech class has highlighted a lack of awareness about a policy for assessments to be done in Te Reo Maori, along with a re-think from the institute’s academic board.

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (Witt) student Kathryn Grace and her classmates were tasked with spearheading a campaign as part of their course assessment, so decided to look at the institute’s policies around the Maori language. Grace, who is enrolled in the Certificate in Tertiary Studies course, said the interest in looking at Te Reo Maori came after the class learnt about the campaign which resulted in it becoming an official language in 1987.

‘‘We found that Witt had a policy to allow for assignments to be submitted in Te Reo Maori,’’ she said. Along with assessments, students also have the right to use Maori when sitting exams.

She said this had been a surprise to her and her classmates so they decided to poll the campus to find out how aware other people were of the policy. Of the 70 people approached, only about five people knew about it, but the majority of those polled supported the policy.

‘‘Most thought it was a really good idea,’’ Grace said.

An email outlining the results was sent to Witt’s academic director Rod Bentham, who agreed to table it for discussion at the August meeting of the academic board. Within the email was a recommendation from the group for the policy to be more visible, including that it be added to the enrolment form.

Bentham said the board had been ‘‘heartened’’ by the efforts of the students to get engaged and take some action.

He said the survey had generated a good discussion amongst the academic board members and while they did not agree with the idea to mention the policy on enrolment forms, it had committed to reviewing the content of its student handbook.

He said the the policy providing students with the opportunity to sit exams or submit assignments using the Maori language was not sufficiently explained in the handbook and moves would be made to rectify this. Programme regulations, which guide Witt courses, were also found wanting in terms of any mention of the Te Reo Maori policy, he said.