Racism a problem in schools – survey

Almost a third of Ma¯ ori and Pasifika primary school leaders have experienced racial discrimination at work, a survey has found.

The Principal Health and Wellbeing

Survey, commissioned by the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), saw 27 per cent of Ma¯ ori and Pasifika school leaders identify their ethnicity as a source of relationship tension.

There were 25.8 per cent who reported discrimination at work based on ethnicity, compared to about 9 per cent of non-Ma¯ ori leaders.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Phil Riley said senior school leaders had even reported discrimination when dealing with government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office.

Of the participants surveyed, 89, or about 15 per cent, identified as Ma¯ ori and Pasifika. They mostly agreed that comments had been made referring to Ma¯ ori that caused offence. Perpetrators included other employees and principals, those in leadership or management positions, business contractors, community organisation representatives, parents and the wider community, the report said.

Riley said the survey focused on school leaders because they were ‘‘in a sense, the canary in the coal mine’’.

NZEI Matua Takawaenga Laures Park said the results were disappointing but not surprising. The organisation has made a list of recommendations to education authorities.

A 2016 survey showed 29.8 per cent of Ma¯ori and Pasifika school leaders reported relationship tension as a result of their ethnicity, while 27.1 per cent reported racial discrimination at work. Those figures raised concerns which led to the 2017 survey.

The 2017 survey was published yesterday and captured responses from with 1217 participants.