What if Hindi gets included in NZ curriculum?
The demand to include the Hindi language in the New Zealand school curriculum is not new and has gained traction and wider recognition within the community and beyond in recent times.
There have been many schools, trusts, organisations and activists in our community committed to the cause and leading the demand of including the Hindi language in the NZ curriculum, along with concertedly educating the younger generations in the language.
Of many other milestones in the promotion of Hindi language in New Zealand, a very recent one was when the last Prime Minister and National Party Leader, Bill English, admitted to The Indian Weekender in an interview that he was not averse to include Hindi among the list of priority languages made available to students and schools in their party’s recently announced pre-election education policy as a part of second language learning (Read full story here)
Undoubtedly, those were some of the most reassuring words that the community has heard directly from the topmost level in the government, even if just before ensuing elections, and which continues to delight many in the community.
However, it seems, very few in the community have delved with the prospect, even if a hypothetical one, of what if the Hindi language gets included in NZ curriculum tomorrow?
Do we have the wherewithal within our Kiwi-Indian community or beyond, say in academia, to step up and provide the much-needed capability of the Hindi language teachers in New Zealand?
This is the question that two Wellington-based educationists Dr Pushpa Wood and Sunita Narayan have been intrigued with and have taken the lead to find a snapshot of the latent capabilities lying within our community that could possibly be ready or further developed if the popular demand of including the Hindi language in NZ curriculum is approved.
Dr Pushpa Wood, Director of Westpac Massey Fin-Ed Centre, had prepared a survey that is not only peer-reviewed and scientific in design but also has the unwavering support of the office of the High Commission of India.
Dr Wood is being assisted by Sunita Narayan, Operations Manager at Wellington Hindi School.
A press release from the office of the High Commission earlier this year (February 1) stated, “A nation-wide survey is being launched using a questionnaire developed by Dr Pushpa Wood, in coordination with other leading experts to determine competencies and capabilities.
“The High Commission requests the member of the diaspora for wholehearted participation.”
The survey had gone live earlier in February and had gathered a snapshot of available latent capabilities in Hindi language teaching; however, more participation is encouraged for a better outcome.
Dr Pushpa Wood and Sunita Narayan are reaching out to the broader Kiwi-Indian community to participate in the survey.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Dr Pushpa Wood explained the rationale behind this initiative in a question: “Would you like Hindi language being taught in New Zealand schools?
“If yes, this is your opportunity to help us create a complete picture of our teacher capability by completing an online survey.
“The survey has been developed in consultation with other language experts and the information gathered through this survey will help us to develop a comprehensive strategy to teaching and use of Hindi language in New Zealand,” Dr Wood said.
The members of the Kiwi-Indian community are encouraged to participate in the survey here.
If anyone has any concerns about the conduct of this research that they want to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), they are encouraged to contact Dr Brian Finch, Director (Research Ethics), email humanethics@massey.ac.nz.
The demand to include the Hindi language in the New Zealand school curriculum is not new and has gained traction and wider recognition within the community and beyond in recent times.
There have been many schools, trusts, organisations and activists in our community committed to the cause and...
The demand to include the Hindi language in the New Zealand school curriculum is not new and has gained traction and wider recognition within the community and beyond in recent times.
There have been many schools, trusts, organisations and activists in our community committed to the cause and leading the demand of including the Hindi language in the NZ curriculum, along with concertedly educating the younger generations in the language.
Of many other milestones in the promotion of Hindi language in New Zealand, a very recent one was when the last Prime Minister and National Party Leader, Bill English, admitted to The Indian Weekender in an interview that he was not averse to include Hindi among the list of priority languages made available to students and schools in their party’s recently announced pre-election education policy as a part of second language learning (Read full story here)
Undoubtedly, those were some of the most reassuring words that the community has heard directly from the topmost level in the government, even if just before ensuing elections, and which continues to delight many in the community.
However, it seems, very few in the community have delved with the prospect, even if a hypothetical one, of what if the Hindi language gets included in NZ curriculum tomorrow?
Do we have the wherewithal within our Kiwi-Indian community or beyond, say in academia, to step up and provide the much-needed capability of the Hindi language teachers in New Zealand?
This is the question that two Wellington-based educationists Dr Pushpa Wood and Sunita Narayan have been intrigued with and have taken the lead to find a snapshot of the latent capabilities lying within our community that could possibly be ready or further developed if the popular demand of including the Hindi language in NZ curriculum is approved.
Dr Pushpa Wood, Director of Westpac Massey Fin-Ed Centre, had prepared a survey that is not only peer-reviewed and scientific in design but also has the unwavering support of the office of the High Commission of India.
Dr Wood is being assisted by Sunita Narayan, Operations Manager at Wellington Hindi School.
A press release from the office of the High Commission earlier this year (February 1) stated, “A nation-wide survey is being launched using a questionnaire developed by Dr Pushpa Wood, in coordination with other leading experts to determine competencies and capabilities.
“The High Commission requests the member of the diaspora for wholehearted participation.”
The survey had gone live earlier in February and had gathered a snapshot of available latent capabilities in Hindi language teaching; however, more participation is encouraged for a better outcome.
Dr Pushpa Wood and Sunita Narayan are reaching out to the broader Kiwi-Indian community to participate in the survey.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Dr Pushpa Wood explained the rationale behind this initiative in a question: “Would you like Hindi language being taught in New Zealand schools?
“If yes, this is your opportunity to help us create a complete picture of our teacher capability by completing an online survey.
“The survey has been developed in consultation with other language experts and the information gathered through this survey will help us to develop a comprehensive strategy to teaching and use of Hindi language in New Zealand,” Dr Wood said.
The members of the Kiwi-Indian community are encouraged to participate in the survey here.
If anyone has any concerns about the conduct of this research that they want to raise with someone other than the researcher(s), they are encouraged to contact Dr Brian Finch, Director (Research Ethics), email humanethics@massey.ac.nz.
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