Programmes
See why more people choose Primary and intermediate at MIT
“Be brave, be bold, our tamariki need you more then you realise.”
“Being a teacher is something that I have always been inspired to be. It gives me an opportunity to give back and create a safe and nurturing space for all students – something I had missing in my early stages of growing up.
I chose the Primary Pasifika course because as a pākehā I have noticed there is not enough cultural awareness within schools, we need more of it. This course provides an opportunity for us to deepen and enrich our understanding and create a safe space for students to bring who they are into the classroom, and not leave their culture at home.
MIT provided the exact course I was looking for – ticked all the boxes and exceeded well above my expectations. This course provides a hands-on approach to learning. I know I will be a great teacher because of it.
What I also love is the community they have built and the ongoing support and encouragement they give to help us achieve, not because they have to, but because they want to. They support us every step of the way and treat us not just as a student but as part of their whānau. I can’t think of any other place that would provide this much support.
We need more Primary Pasifika teachers; it does not matter where you come from if you have the opportunity to change a life and make a difference in this world for our tamariki, take it.
Be brave, be bold, our tamariki need you more then you realise.”
Lexi Williams
MIT student
“I love MIT because they have given me my second chance.”
“Before I started studying I was working for Air New Zealand at the International Airport as a Load Foreman.
My wife chose MIT and encouraged me to apply after I missed out on being accepted by Auckland University. I love MIT because they have given me my second chance to help my family and give back to my community here in South Auckland.
MIT is unique and different because it is based in South Auckland. I love the free car park for students!
MIT will help in any way to get you where you want to go, it is very welcoming, and the staff are very friendly. It is a very hands-on experience which I love because we get to put theory into practice, from day one.
I want to help children have a better future in education.
Come and help, come and stay, come and belong!”
Hans Aiono
MIT student
“The lecturers are amazing.”
“I was on maternity leave after working at the same company for 11.5 years. I had always wanted to be a ‘great teacher’ and as a migrant in this country, I wanted to learn more about this amazing Kiwi culture to embed it into my whānau and my life.
My friends encouraged me to study at MIT. The lecturers here are amazing. I have never met lecturers that are so enthusiastic. I love the ako in our classrooms and the diversity of our lecturers who bring fun, wisdom and knowledge to our classroom. The best part is the way they encourage student relationships with each other. I value my classmates and we are an amazing team together.
It is an eye-opening experience working alongside an Associate Teacher. Assisting and engaging with the Tamariki is the highlight of my week. If you want adventure in a classroom, excitement from engaging with the Tamariki, and linking your theory to your school-based learning, nothing beats that. I am already building lasting relationships with my principal, the teachers and the students.
I encourage you to come along and be a part of this great course.
Go for gold, it is the best place.
MIT will change your life.”
La-Rochelle Bernstein
MIT student
“This will mean real change for our Pasifika children.”
“The vision and priorities outlined in this programme captures what matters to our Pasifika communities. It sets us on a path to get there by drawing on our unique strengths and continuing to support Pasifika learning success.
The programme will give Pasifika learners access to the best teachers for their needs. It draws on evidence and demonstrated Pasifika expertise to inform how we can move our education system towards equity, excellence, and wellbeing.??It will also increase the number of Pasifika teachers, leaders and educational professionals.
My hope is that this programme will mean real change for our Pasifika children, young people and adult learners. It’s about ensuring that the doors to all educational pathways are open and stay open for Pasifika learners to pursue life-long learning.”
Janet Tavui
Deputy Principal – Finlayson Park School
“A celebration of the 8 Pasifika nations.”
“As a mum of 5, Pasifika education means a lot to me. Education is important in our household, so it’s crucial for me to have my children be able to see themselves reflected in higher education. My 2 older sons are seniors in high school and for the past 2 years they have been seeing their friends drop out of school. One dropped out only last week.?
There’s an urgent need for our kids to be able to see more brown faces that look like them, continue onto higher education. Education is the key to opening so many doors. And Pasifika education is vital to both our current and future generations.”?
Noelle Moa
Artist
Photos supplied by: Noelle Moa.
Noelle was recommended to us as an artist who would be able to take the concept of the programme and connect it to a visual representation. One of the challenges we faced, which come up through our consultation with key partners was ‘how do we ensure that all prospective learners can see themselves as a good fit for this programme’, knowing that the programme is underpinned by a set of four pacific principles but open to learners of all cultures and backgrounds. Across a period of 6 months and many meetings and hand drawn iterations Noelle was able to capture beautifully the inclusiveness of this programme.
How did you feel when you were asked to complete this piece for the Bachelor of Education Primary Pasifika?
“Oh I was so emotional. I was teary, elated, excited, scared, humbled, grateful and just so committed and determined to fulfil this piece. But above all, I felt absolutely honoured.
What does the artwork represent?
“The artwork is a celebration of the 8 Pasifika nations officially recognised by the Ministry of Education NZ. As well as my own knowledge, I pored over books researching the material culture of each nation; I trawled through the Pacific collections held in various museums; scoured historical documents and drawings held in archives, as well as those made available for public access over the internet.??
Education is the key to opening so many doors. And many of those doors unlock a wealth of knowledge about our own Pacific cultures, our history and our peoples. In order to move forward in this world, we have to first learn where we have come from and the journeys, the paths, that our ancestors navigated in getting us here. The artwork, the titi, celebrates and acknowledges those journeys. I hope to represent in this piece, the path that our Māori, Fijian, Cook Islands, Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Tokelauan and Tuvalu forebears weaved before us.”
“Get the knowledge, skills and ability to teach anywhere.”
“This programme will give students an advantage when looking for employment because there is a gap in the market for teachers with cultural competencies. There are some differences in how we teach in bilingual units so they can bring this knowledge and skills along with them.??
Students coming in who have an understanding of these cultures and languages will bring a great richness to the schools.?There has been a strong call from principals in the South Auckland region for a programme like this.
This programme is geared at Maori and Pasifika learning which is really exciting because there is currently nowhere else for students to learn Pasifika teaching methods. We’re looking forward to integrating student learners into our teaching team for two days a week once the programme kicks-off. They bring a freshness, richness and new ideas to the school.
I recommend this programme for everybody looking for competitive edge when they graduate. They’ll come out of this programme able with the knowledge, skills and ability to teach anywhere.”
Sue Dawson
Principal – Clendon Park School
“Reach before you teach.”
“This degree is a flagship programme. To my knowledge, there is no teaching qualification in the country that is overtly Pacific – this is something to be celebrated and valued. Graduates will be able to leave this programme knowing how to:
- Champion Pacific learner success in their schools
- View their own identities in relation to Pacific learners
- Connect and engage well with Pacific parent communities
- Be culturally intelligent and be able to achieve best practice with potential.
I was trained as a secondary school teacher, also lectured and tutored at university before moving into vocational education. One of the key quotes that I created that I have kept as a mantra as a teacher and communicator is ‘reach before you teach’. It is the hope that this programme will have you well placed and positioned to equip you with tools and the skills to help reach our Pacific learners, before you teach them.
This programme is really special because it was developed in consultation with local schools in the South Auckland community where Te Whare Takiura o Manukau is located. It makes for us to be able to provide learning programmes that is informed by community consultation and the needs of our local schools where our communities live and work.”
Aiono Manu Fa’aea
Senior Pasifika Manager – MIT
See why more people choose Primary and intermediate at MIT
“Be brave, be bold, our tamariki need you more then you realise.”
“Being a teacher is something that I have always been inspired to be. It gives me an opportunity to give back and create a safe and nurturing space for all students – something I had missing in my early stages of growing up.
I chose the Primary Pasifika course because as a pākehā I have noticed there is not enough cultural awareness within schools, we need more of it. This course provides an opportunity for us to deepen and enrich our understanding and create a safe space for students to bring who they are into the classroom, and not leave their culture at home.
MIT provided the exact course I was looking for – ticked all the boxes and exceeded well above my expectations. This course provides a hands-on approach to learning. I know I will be a great teacher because of it.
What I also love is the community they have built and the ongoing support and encouragement they give to help us achieve, not because they have to, but because they want to. They support us every step of the way and treat us not just as a student but as part of their whānau. I can’t think of any other place that would provide this much support.
We need more Primary Pasifika teachers; it does not matter where you come from if you have the opportunity to change a life and make a difference in this world for our tamariki, take it.
Be brave, be bold, our tamariki need you more then you realise.”
Lexi Williams
MIT student
“I love MIT because they have given me my second chance.”
“Before I started studying I was working for Air New Zealand at the International Airport as a Load Foreman.
My wife chose MIT and encouraged me to apply after I missed out on being accepted by Auckland University. I love MIT because they have given me my second chance to help my family and give back to my community here in South Auckland.
MIT is unique and different because it is based in South Auckland. I love the free car park for students!
MIT will help in any way to get you where you want to go, it is very welcoming, and the staff are very friendly. It is a very hands-on experience which I love because we get to put theory into practice, from day one.
I want to help children have a better future in education.
Come and help, come and stay, come and belong!”
Hans Aiono
MIT student
“The lecturers are amazing.”
“I was on maternity leave after working at the same company for 11.5 years. I had always wanted to be a ‘great teacher’ and as a migrant in this country, I wanted to learn more about this amazing Kiwi culture to embed it into my whānau and my life.
My friends encouraged me to study at MIT. The lecturers here are amazing. I have never met lecturers that are so enthusiastic. I love the ako in our classrooms and the diversity of our lecturers who bring fun, wisdom and knowledge to our classroom. The best part is the way they encourage student relationships with each other. I value my classmates and we are an amazing team together.
It is an eye-opening experience working alongside an Associate Teacher. Assisting and engaging with the Tamariki is the highlight of my week. If you want adventure in a classroom, excitement from engaging with the Tamariki, and linking your theory to your school-based learning, nothing beats that. I am already building lasting relationships with my principal, the teachers and the students.
I encourage you to come along and be a part of this great course.
Go for gold, it is the best place.
MIT will change your life.”
La-Rochelle Bernstein
MIT student
“This will mean real change for our Pasifika children.”
“The vision and priorities outlined in this programme captures what matters to our Pasifika communities. It sets us on a path to get there by drawing on our unique strengths and continuing to support Pasifika learning success.
The programme will give Pasifika learners access to the best teachers for their needs. It draws on evidence and demonstrated Pasifika expertise to inform how we can move our education system towards equity, excellence, and wellbeing.??It will also increase the number of Pasifika teachers, leaders and educational professionals.
My hope is that this programme will mean real change for our Pasifika children, young people and adult learners. It’s about ensuring that the doors to all educational pathways are open and stay open for Pasifika learners to pursue life-long learning.”
Janet Tavui
Deputy Principal – Finlayson Park School
“A celebration of the 8 Pasifika nations.”
“As a mum of 5, Pasifika education means a lot to me. Education is important in our household, so it’s crucial for me to have my children be able to see themselves reflected in higher education. My 2 older sons are seniors in high school and for the past 2 years they have been seeing their friends drop out of school. One dropped out only last week.?
There’s an urgent need for our kids to be able to see more brown faces that look like them, continue onto higher education. Education is the key to opening so many doors. And Pasifika education is vital to both our current and future generations.”?
Noelle Moa
Artist
Photos supplied by: Noelle Moa.
Noelle was recommended to us as an artist who would be able to take the concept of the programme and connect it to a visual representation. One of the challenges we faced, which come up through our consultation with key partners was ‘how do we ensure that all prospective learners can see themselves as a good fit for this programme’, knowing that the programme is underpinned by a set of four pacific principles but open to learners of all cultures and backgrounds. Across a period of 6 months and many meetings and hand drawn iterations Noelle was able to capture beautifully the inclusiveness of this programme.
How did you feel when you were asked to complete this piece for the Bachelor of Education Primary Pasifika?
“Oh I was so emotional. I was teary, elated, excited, scared, humbled, grateful and just so committed and determined to fulfil this piece. But above all, I felt absolutely honoured.
What does the artwork represent?
“The artwork is a celebration of the 8 Pasifika nations officially recognised by the Ministry of Education NZ. As well as my own knowledge, I pored over books researching the material culture of each nation; I trawled through the Pacific collections held in various museums; scoured historical documents and drawings held in archives, as well as those made available for public access over the internet.??
Education is the key to opening so many doors. And many of those doors unlock a wealth of knowledge about our own Pacific cultures, our history and our peoples. In order to move forward in this world, we have to first learn where we have come from and the journeys, the paths, that our ancestors navigated in getting us here. The artwork, the titi, celebrates and acknowledges those journeys. I hope to represent in this piece, the path that our Māori, Fijian, Cook Islands, Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Tokelauan and Tuvalu forebears weaved before us.”
“Get the knowledge, skills and ability to teach anywhere.”
“This programme will give students an advantage when looking for employment because there is a gap in the market for teachers with cultural competencies. There are some differences in how we teach in bilingual units so they can bring this knowledge and skills along with them.??
Students coming in who have an understanding of these cultures and languages will bring a great richness to the schools.?There has been a strong call from principals in the South Auckland region for a programme like this.
This programme is geared at Maori and Pasifika learning which is really exciting because there is currently nowhere else for students to learn Pasifika teaching methods. We’re looking forward to integrating student learners into our teaching team for two days a week once the programme kicks-off. They bring a freshness, richness and new ideas to the school.
I recommend this programme for everybody looking for competitive edge when they graduate. They’ll come out of this programme able with the knowledge, skills and ability to teach anywhere.”
Sue Dawson
Principal – Clendon Park School
“Reach before you teach.”
“This degree is a flagship programme. To my knowledge, there is no teaching qualification in the country that is overtly Pacific – this is something to be celebrated and valued. Graduates will be able to leave this programme knowing how to:
- Champion Pacific learner success in their schools
- View their own identities in relation to Pacific learners
- Connect and engage well with Pacific parent communities
- Be culturally intelligent and be able to achieve best practice with potential.
I was trained as a secondary school teacher, also lectured and tutored at university before moving into vocational education. One of the key quotes that I created that I have kept as a mantra as a teacher and communicator is ‘reach before you teach’. It is the hope that this programme will have you well placed and positioned to equip you with tools and the skills to help reach our Pacific learners, before you teach them.
This programme is really special because it was developed in consultation with local schools in the South Auckland community where Te Whare Takiura o Manukau is located. It makes for us to be able to provide learning programmes that is informed by community consultation and the needs of our local schools where our communities live and work.”
Aiono Manu Fa’aea
Senior Pasifika Manager – MIT
