Te Ururoa Flavell

Wellington, June 2 NZPA - Secondary schools are "side stepping" Maori topics in history classes, the Maori Party says.

The party's education spokesman, Te Ururoa Flavell, said tonight he had been shocked to discover how many schools were "going out of their way" to avoid the issues.

"Learning about the history of Aotearoa -- and the unique knowledge and cultural heritage of our indigenous peoples -- is fundamental to the effective education of all New Zealanders," he said.

"As a former teach I know that confronting our colonial history and understanding the background to the relationship between Maori and Pakeha is a small step towards a better nation.

"We must be brave enough to learn more about...the various challenges and injustices that have occurred over time."

Mr Flavell cited a survey by Dr Richard Manning of Canterbury University which he said showed only 3 percent of 126 schools taught NCEA Level One Maori history topics and no schools were teaching the newly introduced Maori history topics that the Ministry of Education had added to the NCEA Level Two history achievement standards.

Mr Flavell raised the issue in Parliament today, questioning Education Minister Anne Tolley.

She said she was satisfied the curriculum encouraged the development of knowledge about New Zealand's bicultural history.

"The New Zealand curriculum requires teachers of history to make professional decisions about resources and learning experiences to help students understand the impact today of past events," she said.

"The curriculum also requires that teachers help students understand that there is a variety of perceptions and that they differ -- students need to know that one-sided views are not the whole story."