Leaders of 13 New Zealand schools join China Delegation

Led by Auckland’s Confucius Institute, 13 leaders from schools around the country are taking part in an eleven-day NZ Principals’ Delegation to China beginning 27th August, 2011.

Principal of Epsom Girls’ Grammar School Madeline Gunn says: “With 108 international students and a culturally-diverse roll at our school, I am looking forward to a first-hand understanding of the Chinese view of education.”

On both a personal and professional level, Mrs Gunn believes the delegation will help her understand how it feels to be immersed in a culture that’s not her own. She says it will help her school assist Chinese students who are new to NZ and face that same challenge.

She says: “We recognise the richness which the different cultural groups bring to our school and we want all students to feel that they belong here. I hope to learn more about the needs of Chinese students specifically and ways in which we can help them.”

“Chinese parents place great value on education and it is important for schools in New Zealand to be able to understand their goals for their children.”

Principal of Balmoral School in Auckland, Malcolm Milner, says: “We want to get our community looking outward. We are a multi-ethnic community. We need to celebrate that. I want to lead that.”

“Asia is also a close neighbour of NZ and in the future I believe we will have closer business, cultural and social relationships. It is important that I as a school leader foster this understanding in our school’s community. Balmoral School is also situated near the Balmoral Shops where many Chinese businesses have established themselves,” he says.

Principal of Worser Bay School in Wellington Jude Pentecost says: “Our kids need to look beyond our place. We want them to develop cultural intelligence and be able to be confident when living and working alongside a wide range of people and cultures.”

Ms Pentecost believes the delegation will help her understand what she can do to make stronger connections for the children with a part of the world that will be part of their future.

She wants to find out what will motivate and provide the “hook in” to China. “What can the children relate to that will spark an interest? Is it tradition? Language? Popular culture?” she asks.

She says: “The school has had a strong focus on providing opportunities for children to develop key competencies locally and nationally and it’s time to look wider and make authentic connections to this part of the world.”

Besides visiting schools, Hanban Headquarters and NZ businesses in China, the tour will take the group to Tian’anmen Square, the Olympic Games ‘Birds’ Nest’ stadium, the Great Wall, the Beijing Language & Culture University Press and, beyond Beijing, the Confucius Family Mansion and Temple in Qufu.   

Nora Yao, Director of the Confucius Institute, who is leading the delegation, says: “These schools are opening an important window for their students. People who learn about a foreign language and culture become more confident about their own.”