ACT has a number of concerns about this plan. Firstly, students’ time is precious.
We fund universities to prepare students for their careers, and that requires time spent specialising on subjects relevant to their chosen majors.
Students studying for careers in medicine or computer engineering are unlikely to find much relevance in Māori mythology or Treaty interpretations.
Where students have time in their schedules to study subjects beyond their chosen majors, many use ‘electives’ to pursue subjects of personal interest.
This element of choice brings diversity and joy to the university experience.
Forcing students to sacrifice valuable time for compulsory courses will make the university experience less enjoyable.
Secondly, the proposal risks damaging the reputation of the university, especially among foreign students who we rely on to pay full fees, subsidising university costs for local students and taxpayers.
A student who speaks English as a second language and who only plans to stay in New Zealand for the duration of their study will not benefit from courses on local indigenous belief systems.
Finally, the course risks a dangerous uniformity of perspective on Treaty issues.
Whatever you may think about the current Treaty principles debate, it’s clear these issues are controversial and politically contested.
Having a small group of academics in consultation with local iwi prepare a course on Treaty issues will leave graduates with a narrow, one-sided view of the history of the Treaty and its implications for our rights and democracy.
I would go as far as calling the planned courses a form of indoctrination.
As a university student learning about the scientific method, I was taught that knowledge is contestable.
Even the most basic premises can be challenged, and it’s the process of debate, experimentation, and evidence-gathering that results in some ideas enduring while others are consigned to history.
But an emerging political perspective is that one particular interpretation of the Treaty should be taken on faith......The full article is published HERE
Parmjeet Parmar is a current ACT MP with a PhD in Biological Sciences, she has worked as as scientist, businesswoman and broadcaster.
Where students have time in their schedules to study subjects beyond their chosen majors, many use ‘electives’ to pursue subjects of personal interest.
This element of choice brings diversity and joy to the university experience.
Forcing students to sacrifice valuable time for compulsory courses will make the university experience less enjoyable.
Secondly, the proposal risks damaging the reputation of the university, especially among foreign students who we rely on to pay full fees, subsidising university costs for local students and taxpayers.
A student who speaks English as a second language and who only plans to stay in New Zealand for the duration of their study will not benefit from courses on local indigenous belief systems.
Finally, the course risks a dangerous uniformity of perspective on Treaty issues.
Whatever you may think about the current Treaty principles debate, it’s clear these issues are controversial and politically contested.
Having a small group of academics in consultation with local iwi prepare a course on Treaty issues will leave graduates with a narrow, one-sided view of the history of the Treaty and its implications for our rights and democracy.
I would go as far as calling the planned courses a form of indoctrination.
As a university student learning about the scientific method, I was taught that knowledge is contestable.
Even the most basic premises can be challenged, and it’s the process of debate, experimentation, and evidence-gathering that results in some ideas enduring while others are consigned to history.
But an emerging political perspective is that one particular interpretation of the Treaty should be taken on faith......The full article is published HERE
Parmjeet Parmar is a current ACT MP with a PhD in Biological Sciences, she has worked as as scientist, businesswoman and broadcaster.
11 comments:
Calling Auckland University a university is an oxymoron. In point of fact almost all of New Zealands 'universitys' have become somewhat oxymoronic if not actually moronic.
Parakeet- absolutely indoctrination !
That can't be contested (unless you have a Trump type brain).
Have they purged the University Library of books that don't meet their racist criteria ?
Have they got the book burnings scheduled yet ?
Who is the Hitler type to emerge from all this ?
It is also a violation of students' human rights to be forced to be subjected to indoctrination by a political mindset which is highly contentious.
This is no better than students at Pyongyang Uni having to study the wise words of Kim Il Sung the founder of the North Korean dictatorship.
As a retired pharmacist who studied at the New Zealand School of pharmacy years ago, this sort of political indoctrination would have been a laughing stock amongst the students.
We learnt the scientific method.
Challenging all issues was standard. Robust debate was common.
No-one took "offence". All points of view were expressed and put under scientific scrutiny.
Since they rely on approx 70% Govt funding, it's time the coalition gave a clear directive, no more compulsory Maori papers, or no more funding. It's that simple, and patently that needed. These woke academics need reining in, for they have obviously lost sight of their core purpose and societal role. They are a disgrace, and the bring shame on themselves and our country.
It's like going back to school really. Should've been covered in years 5 through to year ten, in social studies. Social Studies? Whatever the equivalent is these days. We were constantly learning about pre colonial life and the Treaty. There was no harm in that. That's the time and place for it.
A direct provocation to the advisory group on universities chaired by Peter Gluckman. This is due to report to Minister Stanford in late 2024 and covers the " role of the TOW in tertiary education."
And of course it will be being pushed by an iwi group somewhere who will insist it is necessary and then they will offer to run the courses if you cross their palm with silver. Seems to be the way things go and then voila another income stream.
It's long past time to defund Auckland University.
Absolutely, this coalition seems to be doing next to nothing to address this nonsense. Allowing the indoctrination to continue is insane - a clear abdication of our coalition's duty to the Country's future. It is like the promised Cabinet Office circular confirming that it is the Government’s expectation that public services should be prioritised on the basis of need, not race - that directive should have been disseminated in the first week, not months down the track. It is a question of priorities and some of our leaders' priorities appear to be up the whack.
As an embarrassed as a part student to see what has become of my university. When studying Law and Commerce we had no time for unnecessary courses like this. One wonders what will need to be dropped as a result. I and my friends went through and then spent time overseas before coming home and mixed it with Oxbridge and Ivy League grads overseas and were proud of our kiwi educations. Hard to think that would be the same these days when those who can are choosing to study overseas and our own universities are being relegated to second class.
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