Week 3 Term 3 - Climate Change

 CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change describes a change in the average conditions such as temperature and rainfall. Human activity is increasingly influencing climate change through activity such as the cutting down of rain forests and the burning of fossil fuels like natural oils, gas and coal. 

NASA states that "Increased heat, drought and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns." It is evident that climate change has and is a global issue that continues to have an impact on how we live and what we live in.

CURRENT CLIMATE IN PACIFIC EDUCATION

The Government have released the Action Plan for Pacific Education 2030 Vision. This plan follows from the Tapasa document. 

There are 6 objectives for the education system and each system has 5 key shifts that is needed to meet the goals of the plan. The overall vision of the action plan is to align objectives with school's strategic plan, goals and vision. 

I can only speak on my view on the current state of Pacific education. I believe that the current system for Pacific learners in secondary education is one that is working for some but at the same time needs to change. The needs of our Pacific learners is changing and the demands to improve literacy is one particular need that is increasing. In my experience I have seen the literacy gap widen with many of the Pacific learners starting college well below the national average in literacy. The current system in the way it tests our Pacific learners needs to change (the writing prompts and topics for the test in particular). The education system needs to be one that is inclusive of the needs of not just the Pacific learners but also of their families and communities. 

The action plan will only function well if all are on board. The current climate in society is divided with the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement is based on the advocating and protesting against police brutality and racial motivated violence against Black people. There are differing perspectives on this movement with people for or against it. The concept of 'black lives matter' has created a division in society where for some people they believe that all lives matter. 

In the same light when it comes to the action plan for pacific education - one may question - what about the rest? The rest do matter. Their needs, values and communities are just as important. Ayana Lage says "No one's saying that your life doesn't matter. What we're saying...is all lives matter until black lives matter." Pacific education is an area that is in crisis and it is vital that this crisis is addressed and that all involved are on the same page and work towards bringing a solution to the problem. 

Tamaki College's student body is 64% Pacific (Tonga, Samoa, Cook Island, Niue, Fijian, Tuvalu, Tokelau). As an educator, a Pacific educator - my pedagogy is based on the cultural system and values that I was born into. The key value of respect and hierarchy (knowing your place) are two values that I bring into my practice. I hope to see that the action plan will help bring those core values into the classroom, that the Pacific students can work and experience a system that is inclusive of what they know, who they are and what they need.