Review of Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education unit standards

FIELD EDUCATION

Review of Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education unit standards

Subfield	Domain	Id
Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education	Cook Islands: Te Punanga Reo Kuki Airani	12636-12640, 12642-12646
	Fiji: Na I Taukei Mai Viti	12647-12655, 12658, 12660
	Niue: Kautaha Aoga Niue	12661-12667, 12669-12674
	Samoa: A'Oga Amata	12675-12679, 12681, 12683
	Tokelau: Ofaga o te Gagana Tokelau	12684-12686
	Tonga: Akoteu	12687, 12689-12692, 12694, 12696-12698

The NZQA National Qualifications Services has completed the review of the unit standards listed above.

Date new versions published November 2006

Planned review date December 2011

Summary of review and consultation process

Following a series of meetings in 2004 and 2005 the NZQA National Qualifications Services - Pacific Island Early Childhood Education (PI ECE) Advisory Group decided to rollover the above unit standards, and to review the National Certificate in Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education (Parent Helper) with strands in Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga [Ref: 0636] with the intention of making it more equitable and attainable. However, the Advisory Group found the disparities between levels, credits and the number of unit standards available for each Pacific Island group raised significant barriers to achieving that aim.

There had been no uptake of the unit standards since they were registered in 1997, or of the qualification registered in 1999. Therefore, it was decided at a meeting of the PI ECE Advisory Group in March 2006 to designate many of the unit standards and the qualification expiring. Participants at that meeting represented the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Niue, Tokelau and Tonga as well as Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa and the Auckland University of Technology. Both of those organisations provided programmes leading to the National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Pasifika) (Level 7) [Ref: 0983], which required credits from the above domains.

Following wide-ranging discussions, the meeting confirmed a desire for a National Certificate in Pacific Island Early Childhood Education (Level 4). The skill and knowledge outcomes of the proposed unit standards align with the Level 4 descriptors rather than the Level 3 descriptors. It was agreed that any PI ECE qualification needed to have rigour and meet the requirements of early childhood education in the New Zealand context.

The meeting confirmed the requirement for a level 4 PI ECE qualification, and agreed it needed to:

· encompass all of the generic Level 3 early childhood qualification ie 65 credits, to enable people to achieve two qualifications if they so choose or to exit part way through with a whole qualification;

· ensure all Pacific support workers (the target group) have the generic skills required for early childhood workers while allowing for them to be achieved within a Pacific programme;

· have 120 credits to make it more attractive for providers to offer as a 1-year full-time programme, this would allow for 55 Pacific Island credits and ensure a match between content and title;

· cover the skills required by support workers in any ECE centre and also be able to be used to staircase into either teaching through the National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Pasifika) (Level 7) [Ref: 0983] or the higher level support skills through the National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) [Ref: 0430];

· allow candidates to achieve it through either a provider or on-job training if an Industry Training Organisation (ITO) could be persuaded to seek accreditation and register assessors in this area. Either approach would require practical skills to be demonstrated in a supervised early childhood setting;

· comprised mostly of compulsory standards with an elective section, which could recognise other Pacific Island skills;

· exclude those unit standards that contribute to the diploma as candidates might be disadvantaged by having to demonstrate the same skills twice, as the diploma requires that candidates gain the skills within a programme approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council.

It was agreed that the most equitable approach would be to develop a new set of Level 4 generic Pacific Island standards to be registered in a new domain Pacific Island Early Childhood Education: Cultural Support. This approach would also benefit those Pacific Island groups that did not have any unit standards such as Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

The Advisory Group then reviewed the unit standards and produced draft outlines for new generic skills required of people working in an early childhood education centre. They agreed that new generic Pacific Island unit standards would include relevant special notes from the generic ECE standards. The unit standards would also include a new note stating that skills and knowledge must be in accordance with the culture and protocols of a stated Pacific Island ie they could not be achieved in an artificial generic Pasifika context.

While many of the new unit standards have their origins in some of the reviewed standards they are not considered replacements. This has resulted in all reviewed standards being designated as Category D. However, it was agreed the unit standards would not expire for five years as an earlier date could adversely impact on the existing candidates for the National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Pasifika) (Level 7) [Ref: 0983].

The meeting considered that the following standards should be redeveloped as separate standards with equal level and credits for each island group - 12641, 12657, 12659, 12668, 12680, 12688, 12693, and 12695. Please note those standards were still under review and have not been included in this review.

New unit standards based on the drafts were circulated for consultation and feedback in May, and feedback was incorporated and considered by the Advisory Group in June 2006.

The new unit standards and draft National Certificate Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education (Level 4) were discussed, amended and endorsed as 'fit for purpose' at the Advisory Group meeting of 22 June 2006.

Main changes resulting from the review

· All reviewed unit standards have been designated expiring (category D)

· 12 new unit standards have been developed.

Unit standards categorised as category D expire at the end of December 2011.

Impact on existing provider accreditations

Current Accreditation for			Accreditation extended to
Nature of accreditation	Classification	Level	Nature of accreditation	Classification	Level
Domain	Cook Islands: Te Punanga Reo Kuki Airani	2	Domain	Pacific Island Early Childhood Education: Cultural Support	4

Impact on Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP)

None.

Impact on existing qualifications

Qualifications that contain the reviewed standards or classifications are tabled below.

Affected

The qualification lists a reviewed classification (domain or subfield) in an elective set

The qualification lists a standard that has changes to level or credits

The qualification lists a C or D category standard

Not materially affected

The qualification lists a standard that has a new title

The qualification lists a standard that has a new classification

The following NZQA National Qualification Services qualification is currently being reviewed. A replacement qualification has been developed and will be registered following the completion of this review in 2006.

Qualification title	Standards in the qualification
National Certificate in Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education (Parent Helper) with strands in Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga [Ref: 0636]	12636-12640, 12642-12646, 12649, 12652, 12653, 12658, 12661-12666, 12670, 12673, 12675-12679, 12681, 12683, 12687, 12690, 12691, 12696-12698

Although the following qualification is still attainable, NZQA National Qualification Services will consider whether it needs to be revised to include the new domain following the registration of the new standards in 2006.

Qualification title	Classifications
National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Pasifika) (Level 7) [Ref: 0983]	Cook Islands: Te Punanga Reo Kuki Airani
	Fiji: Na I Taukei Mai Viti
	Niue: Kautaha Aoga Niue
	Samoa: A'Oga Amata
	Tokelau: Ofaga o te Gagana Tokelau
	Tonga: Akoteu

Summary of main changes

All changes are in bold.

Key to review category
A	Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number
B	Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number
C	Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new Id
D	Standard will expire and not be replaced

Subfield: Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education

Domain Cook Islands: Te Punanga Reo Kuki Airani

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12636	Apply religious values and practices in a Punanga Reo	5	4	D
12637	Identify Cook Islands ways of communication and social relationships in a Punanga Reo	4	3	D
12638	Describe, demonstrate, and evaluate Cook Islands art and craft work in a Punanga Reo	4	4	D
12639	Prepare and demonstrate Cook Islands music and movement for children in the Punanga Reo	5	4	D
12640	Identify and describe kopu ariki within own Cook Islands structure in a Punanga Reo	3	3	D
12642	Describe Cook Island human development theory from conception to birth	4	4	D
12643	Describe and maintain the family structure in a Punanga Reo	3	3	D
12644	Prepare a meal, and evaluate a nutritional menu for the Cook Islands Punanga Reo	3	2	D
12645	Describe and assist with the implementation of childrearing practices in the Punanga Reo	4	3	D
12646	Identify and describe the role of parent helpers and supporters in the Punanga Reo	2	4	D

Domain Fiji: Na I Taukei Mai Viti

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12647	Maintain Fijian cultural traditions in the Fijian early childhood centre	5	8	D
12648	Maintain Fijian protocols appropriate to human relationships in the early childhood centre	5	8	D
12649	Demonstrate knowledge of Fijian protocols and customs	4	4	D
12650	Plan teaching support for the Fijian early childhood centre programme	3	4	D
12651	Describe strategies to integrate New Zealand approaches into Fijian early childhood education	5	10	D
12652	Demonstrate knowledge of oral and literacy skills for assisting in a Fijian early childhood centre	4	3	D
12653	Describe and develop Fijian family structure in the Fijian early childhood centre	3	5	D
12654	Plan, and facilitate programmes to meet the philosophy of Fijian centres and Te Whāriki	5	5	D
12655	Plan, facilitate, and review programmes for holistic growth in Fijian early childhood education	6	6	D
12658	Develop resources for the Fijian early childhood centre	4	8	D
12660	Prepare a meal, and evaluate a nutritional menu for the Fijian early childhood centre	3	2	D

Domain Niue: Kautaha Aoga Niue

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12661	Support teachers to maintain and strengthen Niue family structure in the Niue early childhood centre	3	3	D
12662	Support teachers to plan and implement Niue early childhood programmes	4	5	D
12663	Support teachers to interact with children in the Niue early childhood centre	3	3	D
12664	Assist to apply Niue traditional ways of child rearing in the early childhood centre	4	6	D
12665	Plan and promote Niue protocols and behaviours in the early childhood centre	4	5	D
12666	Develop Niue resources for children's activities at the Niue early childhood centre	4	8	D
12667	Develop a support network with Niue parents and other ethnic groups in early childhood centres	4	3	D
12669	Identify Niue human development theory and practices in the early childhood centre	7	6	D
12670	Describe and apply Niue spiritual and Christian values in a Niue early childhood setting	6	5	D
12671	Identify and apply formal oral procedures in the Niue early childhood centre	6	10	D
12672	Describe Niue family structure and evaluate practices according to Niue family roles	5	8	D
12673	Plan for Niue traditional music, dance, and movement in the Niue early childhood centre	5	6	D
12674	Develop and maintain Niue craft and resources in Niue early childhood care settings	5	6	D

Domain Pacific Island Early Childhood Education: Cultural Support

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
23412	Assist in implementing a Pacific Island language curriculum in an early childhood education setting	4	4	New
23413	Make and use Pacific Island resources for play and learning activities in an early childhood education setting	4	4	New
23414	Assist in planning and implementing a Pacific Island cultural programme in an early childhood education setting	4	4	New
23415	Promote the use of Pacific Island music, dance, and movement in an early childhood education setting	4	6	New
23416	Describe and demonstrate art and craft work for a Pacific Island in an early childhood education setting	4	4	New
23417	Use a Pacific Island language to interact with children, visitors and staff in an early childhood education setting	3	3	New
23418	Demonstrate knowledge of Pacific Island protocols, and use them in an early childhood education setting	4	5	New
23419	Describe traditional Pacific Island family occasions and associated protocols in an early childhood education setting	4	4	New
23420	Plan a menu, and cook and serve a Pacific Island meal in an early childhood education centre	4	3	New
23421	Demonstrate knowledge of Pacific Island child-rearing practices in an early childhood education setting	4	3	New
23422	Support young Pacific Island children to respect their religious or spiritual values and beliefs	4	3	New
23423	Present traditional Pacific Island stories and games in an early childhood education setting	4	3	New

Domain Samoa: A'Oga Amata

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12675	Identify, and develop links with Samoan early childhood regional and national organisations	3	2	D
12676	Make and use Samoan handicrafts for children's play and learning activities in a A'oga Amata	4	4	D
12677	Practise Samoan family structure protocol in a A'oga Amata	5	5	D
12678	Apply Christian beliefs, values, and practises appropriate for young children in a A'oga Amata	5	4	D
12679	Identify, describe and implement Samoan values and beliefs of child development in a A'oga Amata	5	5	D
12681	Demonstrate knowledge of the Ta'iala Gagana Samoa in a A'oga Amata	4	4	D
12683	Implement Samoan traditional practices for children's learning in a A'oga Amata	4	3	D

Domain Tokelau: Ofaga o te Gagana Tokelau

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12684	Plan, prepare, and assess a nutritional menu for a Tokelauan early childhood setting	4	2	D
12685	Assist to develop, implement, and evaluate programmes in a Tokelauan early childhood setting	4	3	D
12686	Demonstrate knowledge of Tokelauan cultural child rearing practices related to young children	4	2	D

Domain Tonga: Akoteu

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
12687	Demonstrate ways of working with children in the Tongan early childhood centre	3	3	D
12689	Plan and facilitate programmes to meet the philosophy of Tongan centres and Te Whāriki	5	5	D
12690	Demonstrate knowledge of Tongan protocols in the early childhood centre	5	5	D
12691	Monitor and respond to current political issues for Tongan early childhood education	7	7	D
12692	Produce, monitor, and review early childhood policies from the Tongan perspective	6	7	D
12694	Demonstrate cooperation in the Tongan early childhood centre	3	3	D
12696	Assist with the implementation of programmes in the Tongan early childhood centre	3	3	D
12697	Promote and uplift children's self esteem in the Tongan early childhood centre	4	6	D
12698	Assist teachers to maintain the Tongan early childhood centre's status	4	5	D