A research note: A regional response to national concerns in teacher education

Abstract

How can tertiary education in regions respond innovatively and collaboratively to issues regarding teacher supply and quality, especially in regions of teacher shortages? This research report focuses on one response. The Rotorua regional primary teaching flexible learning option was established by the Christchurch College of Education (CCE) in late 1996 and based at Waiarik Institute of Technology (Waiariki). It is an example of how one region in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) responded to two identified national concerns; first, a teacher shortage and second, the provision of a preservice teacher education programme that prepares teachers with particular skills to teach Māori children, who make up a substantial proportion of students in that region. This report is of a stocktake of the programme after 10 years of operation.