"Apple in Kura" continues under New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

A third year of the Hangarau Matihiko micro-credential training, delivering critical professional learning and development in digital technology to kaiako (teachers) in kura kaupapa and English medium schools with a high percentage of Māori students, is now underway. This comes as a new report confirms the effectiveness of the training programme. 

The partnership between Apple and the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) continues to strengthen the digital fluency of kaiako in kura kaupapa and schools. The programme delivered the Hangarau Matihiko | Digital Technologies micro-credential to kaiako in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2023 and in Te Tai Tokerau last year, with year three now underway in 15 kura kaupapa and schools in the Central North Island.

NZIST Chief Executive Gus Gilmore acknowledged that the recent evaluation of year two echoed the outcomes of the programme’s first year, illustrating the power of the partnership in upskilling and equipping kaiako in digital technology to help unlock the potential of learners – the benefits of which have been shared to 22 kura and schools, over 100 teachers and more than 5,000 ākonga (students).

“We’re delighted that a recent and thorough evaluation of the programme shows the depth to which our partnership has helped bridge the tech sector gap for Māori and Pacific kaiako and ākonga. The gains reported in digital fluency and tech confidence are supported by deliberate collaboration and focusing on culturally grounded practice including Kaupapa Māori pedagogies. 

“The achievements and approach positively impact kaiako working with New Zealand’s most underserved rangatahi. This is despite structural inequities in access to resources, infrastructure and Māori digital specialists, some of which the programme seeks to help address,” Mr Gilmore said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the success of this partnership including Dila Beisembayeva who has been instrumental in leading the relationship with Apple and kura, and business division colleagues involved in the programme including Wintec and Toi Ohomai who are supporting the delivery of the kaupapa this year”.

You can read the year two evaluation here.