There’s a growing need for more qualified early childhood teachers who have an understanding of Pacific perspectives on education. This specialty is designed for people of all ethnic backgrounds who have an interest in Pacific early childhood centres or teaching Pacific children in mainstream centres.
You develop the skills, knowledge and understandings to be an effective teacher working with Pasifika children.
Minimum entry requirements
English language requirements
IELTS (academic) 7.0 overall with all bands 7.0 or higher
Selection criteria
Interview, numeracy and literacy competency assessment, CV and experience working with young children.
Preferred school subjects
Language rich subjects from AUT’s subject list, art and design subjects, languages, mathematics subjects, Dance, Digital Technologies, Drama, Health Education, Physical Education.
If you study early childhood teaching you develop the character, understanding and skills to be a teacher of children in the 0-5 age range. When you graduate, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Year 1
You complete 120 points (8 papers) across the following areas:
Professional practice
Teaching of the curriculum
Studies in education
Year 2
You complete 120 points (8 papers) across the following areas:
Professional practice
Teaching of the curriculum
Studies in education
Year 3
You will continue your studies with 120 points (8 papers) in the following areas and have options to choose topics you wish to pursue in greater depth:
Teaching placements
All students need to complete a number of teaching placements in a diverse range of practicum centres (as prescribed by the Education Council). The centres are mainly based in Auckland and include Pacific Island language nests, early childhood education and full daycare centres, kindergartens, community-based preschool facilities with a focus on Pacific teaching settings.
As part of your placements you work with children from 0-5 years in different settings over your three years of study. During your placements you learn to reflect on your practice, document children’s learning and work effectively as a member of the teaching team. You also learn to recognise how the theory you’re learning in the classroom is helping you understand your role as a student teacher in supporting children’s learning in all aspects of the early childhood education curriculum Te Whāriki and the New Zealand National Curriculum. For many students this workplace experience is the highlight of the degree.