Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education recently published a series of case studies prepared by Pragmatica showing the different and innovative ways education and learning was maintained within the Pacific community during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The initiatives were based around Talanoa Ako, an education programme for Pacific parents, families, and communities. The programme supports them to build knowledge and confidence, enabling them to champion their children's education and learning journeys.

The approaches and activities undertaken form the basis for lasting positive change for families taking part in the Talanoa Ako programme.

Talanoa Ako is delivered through Pacific community networks to equip parents, families and communities with skills, knowledge and the confidence needed to champion their children's education. The Talanoa Ako programme design encourages the partners, in collaboration with parents, families and communities to take ownership of "as and by Pacific”.

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On 25 March 2020, Aotearoa New Zealand, went into COVID-19 lockdown. At Alert Level 4, people had to stay home, no gatherings were allowed, and all public places were closed. The lockdown came quickly and was hard for some Pacific families.

Realising that community partners could not deliver the Talanoa Ako programme face-to-face as they had normally, the Parent Information and Community Intelligence (PICI) Strategy and Integration team, at the Ministry of Education quickly considered alternative delivery options. The case studies, and accompanying infographics, highlight how the PICI team understood Pacific parents and families wanted to know how best to support their children’s education at home.

The case studies, and accompanying infographics, can be found here: