The End of Streaming in Classrooms w/ University of Auckland Professor Christine Rubie-Davies: 4th September, 2024

A team of experts from the University of Auckland and Ngāi Tahu, have lead an initiative called Kōkirihia, which aims to end the practice of streaming in secondary school classrooms. 

Streaming is the practice of grouping students in classes based on their level of ability, from ‘least likely to succeed’ to ‘extension’ classes.

Experts and Iwi have condemned this colonial-era practice, saying that it limits the academc growth and pathway to university for students and is particularly detrimental to rangatahi Māori and Pasifika students.

These experts have also recommended the practice of High Expectation Teaching and the placement of students in mixed ability classes as an alternative to classroom streaming.

Oto spoke to Christine Rubie-Davies, Professor of Learning, Development and Professional Practice at the university of Auckland to talk about Kōkirihia and why the practice of streaming in classrooms needs to end