We know that parent involvement in student learning is a big factor in creating student success. A programme established to enable this in Pacific communities is having a significant impact. Digimatua, run by 360 Tautua Trust, is helping families to support their children’s education by equipping families with essential digital skills and enabling communication with wider family and communities.
Romana Fetu, CEO of 360 Tautua Trust which runs the Digimatua programme
The power of gaining digital skills is clear when you talk to Pacific parents and families who have been part of Digimatua, a programme designed to improve digital inclusion in Pacific communities.
They will tell you how it has enabled them to be more engaged in their children’s education and helped them to connect with family around the world.
Romana Fetu, CEO of 360 Tautua Trust which runs the Digimatua programme, says digital inequality is “huge for our Pacific families”. Through Digimatua, they’re able to be part of the solution.
“One of the things that was really strong that came through was that our parents and caregivers are not connected. So it was, how are we going to support them in being able to access online services, to be able to attend their online meetings?” she says.
“We really wanted to simplify the Digimatua polokalame, or programme, so that we can cater to our Pacific people. So, we go to them, we teach bilingually. So, a majority of the programme is taught in the mother tongue.”
Emma Meafua Seufala is one of many who have gone through the Digimatua programme.
“That programme was very important to me because I didn’t know how to go to the internet, but now I understand how to message my family in the islands everywhere around the world,” she says.
Parents Breena and Rob are proud to be part of their daughter’s digital education journey
Parent Breena Foleni says technology has become a “really main part of life nowadays”.
“Not only in work, school, church, pretty much everywhere is technology,” she says.
“They [the children] have a lot of their schoolwork in Seesaw or Studyladder.”
Romana says grandparents, aunties and uncles have all been involved in Digimatua.
“That’s the beauty of the polokalame because we include everybody, then it has a domino effect on everybody in that family, in that village, and in that community.”
Miriama Paletaoga Faatiu says it’s a challenge and a gift for her and her Pacific Island people to be able to learn the skills she has through Digimatua.
A significant benefit of the Digimatua programme is that it’s giving families the skills to be more involved in the education of their children.
Families sharing digital education together to enhance learning capabilities.
This has a clear link to Key Shift 4 of the refresh of the Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020–2030: Partner with families to design education opportunities together with teachers, leaders and educational professionals so that aspirations for learning and employment can be met.
“As part of the talanoa (discussion) as well, we sit down and have a session around the different applications that the schools offer so that the parents can continue to stay connected, and just find out what’s happening with their children.”
Parent Rob Tamasese says he can stay updated, no matter how big or small the event may be.
“We get to experience what they’re learning about first-hand just by opening up their laptop, or whatever it is,” he says.
The work the 360 Tautua Trust has been doing with the Digimatua polokalame is a real-world example of digital approaches opening new horizons for learning, teaching and family involvement.
The impact of upskilling digitally is not unnoticed by student Josiah, whose grandmother has gone through the Digimatua programme.
“They get to know what to help me with, what’s going on with school, if I’m doing good, if I’m doing bad. It also just helps them to stay on track of what I’m doing as well.”
Emma says learning digital skills means she, and others, can stay connected and engaged with the children’s learning.
Josiah showing his nana how to access digital applications to be part of her grandson's education journey.
“Before we never talked to the kids in helping with the computer assignments, but now we can help them,” she says.
Romana says the most important thing is that family are connecting.
Josiah says being able to help his grandmother understand and learn more about how to use technology has also strengthened their bond.
“The use of technology has not only, like my nana said, helped her understand how to use it and how to know more about it, it’s also just brought my relationship with her even closer with the use of technology.”
Romana says she has seen relationships grow due to families being able to navigate digital spaces.
“But also, like I said, the confidence of the parents is awesome to see that they can now just navigate their devices and be confident in who they are, and not shy away from it. But as long as we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the community, then I know that life for me would be complete.”
The Ministry of Education’s Connected Ako strategy(external link)
Refresh of the Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020–2030(external link)
Former Ministry of Education principal advisor, Blake Wong-Ling, describes that programmes like Digimatua see families learn how to better support their children in their learning at home.
Digital and data are essential in developing education journeys for students and whānau. Learners and educators can thrive – live, learn and work – in the digital world. Building digital capability is essential in helping learners gain the skills they need.
To enable transformed learning, teaching, assessment, and research, learning environments require secure platforms, systems, and assistive tools. Digital and data can contribute to better educational outcomes.
Watch the video(external link) showing how stronger digital skills have enabled families to better support their children's education.
Education Gazette offers a series of articles highlighting digital success stories from across the education sector.
Stories of new approaches to digital in education are regularly showcased.
The Digimatua programme helped resolve digital inclusion for Pacific families by being part of the solution and bridging the gap for Pacific families.
In this story you will meet families who have been part of the 360 Tautua Trust programme, shaping the way Pacific families access students’ education.
Videos are available online at education.govt.nz/digitalstrategy(external link). Articles are available online at gazette.education.govt.nz(external link).
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 8:44 am, 27 October 2023
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