Noun /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
The term we use in Aotearoa New Zealand to cover harmful fixed-ability grouping, banding, and the inflexible use of prerequisites in education – all practices whereby students are sorted into different classes or placed into in-class ability-based groups for sustained periods of time based on teacher perceptions of ability and assessment data.
Kōkirihia is a rōpū of passionate people and organisations that have come together to ensure that all tamariki and rangatahi living in Aotearoa have access to a fair, just and culturally enriching education – one with high expectations of every single learner and their ability to reach their potential and thrive.
Streaming is unfair because it places students in classes often based on perceived ability and limits your potential to realise your dreams and reach your full potential. Many young people’s opportunities become limited as a result of being streamed.
Do these quotes sound familiar?
“By having a safe and fun education, it makes people want to go to school more and ensures nobody is left behind as when you put in the mahi you can do anything. Rangatahi can be themselves as the won’t be put down for their culture.”
“I hate streaming because it’s in levels – dumb to smart. For me I was in the low classes.”
“There is a sense of ingrained hopelessness that comes with being in the cabbage classes.”
“The effect of streaming for me at high school was I did get streamed into the top class but it alienated me from many of my friends and so by fifth form, my pool of mates had disappeared or dwindled. By the time I got to seventh form there were only two of us Maori left.”
“I see people that are in lower classes and how this affects their confidence. This can affect their attendance and their behaviour at school.”
“Streaming puts your confidence down...doesn’t make you want to go for things that you could go for… everyone looks down on you when you’re in low classes. They just think you are dumb, but you are not, you’re just in the wrong environment.”
Words rangatahi use to describe what education without streaming would look and feel like:
In 2024 Kōkirihia ran a series of wānanga for rangatahi to help build an understanding of the harmful impacts of streaming on young people. Here’s what some of the participants had to say.
It is your birthright to have access to an education that meets your expectations and allows you to thrive – we should all be empowered to have agency in our education journey and if we don’t we need to be asking questions.
You can:
