REVIEWING FLEXIBLE LEARNING SPACES FOR MĀORI-MEDIUM EDUCATION

Abstract

Situated within a mainstream primary school in inner-city Auckland, Te Akā Pūkaea accommodates two Māori-medium education pathways: Te Awahou (bilingual) and Te Uru Karaka (total immersion). Te Akā Pūkaea is now in its fifth year of working as a flexible learning space (FLS). With the increasing presence of FLSs in the school landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand, researchers have begun to explore the significance of spatial design on classroom teaching and learning. The vast majority of this research has been undertaken in English-medium schools, and the participation of Māori voices in the discussion of FLSs over the last 20 years has been minimal at best. Consequently, this article reviews the relevant literature with a focus on the benefits and challenges of FLSs within Māori-medium education settings and contributes another Māori voice to this discussion.