The English Language Curriculum shares the notion that cultural knowledge is the foundation for learning.  It is through Cook Islands Culture, values, practices and knowledge that we are offered a unique view that can be taught to our children and shared with the world. As educators, it is important that we start with the world that was left for them by their ancestors.

Download: Curriculum English

Chris Story Language Advisor

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Download: English Curriculum A3  

The Cook Islands Ministry of Education supports Bilingualism. The Cook Island English Language Curriculum and the English Department in the Cook Ministry of Education acknowledges Maori as the Language of the Land and its People and English as the Language of Trade and Diplomacy. English is important in secondary and tertiary education in order for us to participate in the International world.

For most Cook Islands children, English is not their mother tongue and, therefore, language programmes in the curriculum must reflect this. Proficiency in second language literacy is not begun until literacy in the first language is established. It is proven that children and students who are competent in two or more languages are cognitively advantaged. In the Cook Islands, bilingual skills can be an advantage in a number of work and community situations. Teachers, therefore, need to provide learning opportunities which offer children the chance to develop ability in, and confidence with, communicating competently first in Maori and then English.