Call for more investment in Pacific early childhood education by pioneering Pasifika ECE professor

Fa alogo Aganoa Jacoba Matapo, the inaugural Pro Vice Chancellor Pacific at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), has called for increased investment in early childhood education (ECE) for Pacific communities in New Zealand. She hopes Aotearoa New Zealand will become a Pacific hub for the entire region. Matapo notes that Pacific ECE has grown over five decades through grassroots efforts, with pioneers like Teupoko ina Morgan and Jan Taouma inspiring her work.

She emphasizes the importance of preserving language, culture, and identity, which were cultivated by Pacific women who migrated to New Zealand and continued their traditions. Matapo's passion for early childhood education stems from her upbringing, where her mother practiced cultural healing methods at home. She has spent 20 years dedicated to Pacific education, earning a Master's in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate of Education.

Matapo believes that cultural grounding provides children with the strongest start to life, as it gives them an advantage in developing critical thinking skills and understanding different worldviews. She argues that early childhood education is crucial for academic success, especially for Pacific children, as it fosters confidence, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging in their communities.

Matapo urges policymakers to invest more in early childhood education and recognize its importance in shaping the future of Pacific communities.