ERO Review - Ako Panuku: An evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness

Ako Panuku is a Ministry of Education funded professional development suite, supporting Māori secondary school and wharekura teachers with particular emphasis on te reo Māori teachers.

In 2011, the Ministry asked the Education Review Office (ERO) to carry out an evaluation of the current design and implementation of the Ako Panuku programme, outcomes and impacts for Māori teachers and schools, and the strengths and weaknesses of this provision.
 

This evaluation investigated the impact of Ako Panuku as a programme to support Māori teachers and develop their professional capacity. The evaluation focused on the design and implementation of the programme, outcomes and impacts for Māori teachers and schools, and the strengths and weaknesses of this provision, rather than course content.
 
The evaluation sought to answer the following questions:

• To what extent do schools and teachers recognise the Ako Panuku vision of the ‘unique’ contribution of teachers as Māori to raising Māori student achievement?
• To what extent do teachers feel empowered as Māori as a result of their involvement in Ako Panuku?
• How well has Ako Panuku influenced the sense of identity of Māori teachers?
• How well do school systems support and promote the dissemination of professional learning throughout the school?
• How well does the school support Māori teachers?
• How well does the school monitor the impact of Ako Panuku and other initiatives on raising Māori student achievement?

In completing the investigation ERO conducted a national online survey for all teachers involved in Ako Panuku during August and September 2011, and in February 2012 visited 11 mainstream schools and two kura Māori. ERO spoke to teachers who were Māori and to school leaders, and observed classes taught by teachers who had participated in Ako Panuku.

For the fully documented findings, refer to the report, available on the ERO website or download the report below.