An Investigation into the Identification of Māori Gifted and Talented Students in Mainstream Schools

Abstract

This article describes a study into the identification of Māori students who are gifted and talented. The study used survey methodology and content analysis to establish the definitions and identification procedures used in mainstream schools in one region of Aotearoa New Zealand. The barriers and challenges these schools faced when identifying Māori students who are gifted and talented was also examined. The findings indicated that although some schools had definitions and identification practices which were culturally responsive, their practices were not leading to the formal identification of the numbers of gifted and talented Māori students that are suggested by the literature. The study concludes that culturally responsive environments are the most appropriate way of generating effective identification practices. The findings indicate the main barrier to culturally responsive identification of Māori students who are gifted and talented is the lack of teacher expertise and knowledge. There is therefore a major need for ongoing professional development and learning in this area.

Intersectionality in education

“…For STEM-related career aspirations in the United States, Saw, Chang and Chan (2018 [101]) found that socio-economic background, ethnicity and gender all had large effects on the aspirations to pursue a STEM-related career, as illustrated in Figure 3.3. Asian American boys from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds reported the highest aspirations to pursue a STEM-related career, even though this difference was not statistically significant from advantaged white boys' aspirations.…”

“…Statistically significant differences compared to the reference group (white boys with higher SES) are shown in a darker tone. Source: Adapted from Saw, Chang and Chan (2018 [101]), Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Disparities in STEM Career Aspirations at the Intersection of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status, https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X18787818. 7 The prestige of occupations was measured using an index that considered the relative prestige level of the occupation, the minimum education required to enter the occupation, and the median income of those employed in the occupation.…”