Over 30 years ago when Professor Russell Bishop started teaching he was struck by a single question: Why did so many Māori students start out well but fail as they went through school? Bishop, Professor of Māori Education at the University of Waikato, and colleagues interviewed Year 9 and 10 high school students, their families, teachers and principals from which he developed the very successful Te Kotahitanga education model in which teachers receive special professional development on how to better teach Māori students.
Project commenced: