Parumoana opens its doors

Tu Tangata, Issue 30, 1 July 1986, Page 24

Parumoana opens its doors

PARUMOANA Community College, Porirua has opened its doors and its multicultural community is planning to make full use of it.

As one staff member, Marjore Truong said, “Here the ones who are normally powerless have the power.”

She is referring to the multi-cultural staff as much as to the community who have begun to use the facilities.

Herself Vietnamese, with Thailand and other asian countries, plus nations of the Pacific and a large contingent of the tangata whenua, Parumoana is practising what it preaches.

If preaching sounds too strong a word, College Principal, Turoa Royal says there is an air of crusading to the college objectives.

Environmental concern, integrateo with community, regional, reflects ethnic mix, an ideas place, broad based courses, personal development along with technological demands, social justice, accountable to community, affirmative action for women are some of the values held in regard.

The college is some distance from the Wellington Polytechnic and the Petone Technical Institute, who it could be seen, are rivals for courses and students. Community education is fast growing in this country with many and varied courses springing up either part or fulltime from the community educational institutes around the country.

Parumoana is right now establishing its kaupapa in the midst of an urban ethnic mix that hasn’t always had fond memories of schooling and education.

Because of factors like this, Turoa is aware that the college has to really get out into the community, and be of service with practical courses that reflect where Porirua people are at.

Presently 49 student nurses have started the three year nursing course with other short term courses planned. Construction of the remaining college facilities is going hand in hand with planning courses that will fill them.

One such short-term course that took place in the second week of the May holidays was a introductory journalism course for Maori and Pacific Island people. It was run under the umbrella of TU TANGATA and was one of many based in community institutes around the country.

Head ot General Studies, Thana Na Nagara is excited about this because the intention is to develop a separate department of Media Studies.

This media studies will encompass language use as well.

Already a maori language course is being offered from Whakarongotai College to complement the August language immersion hui of the Raukawa Trustees.

And Parumoana has plans for a radio station truly of the community. While details aren’t clear in the principal’s

mind, the determination is to be able to carry the message of Porirua in multilingual form. Although anything seems possible in the heady fresh approach Parumoana is taking to community education, Turoa

Royal says he is aware of the parameters within which the Education Department expects the college to function. And that he sees as a challenge, as the community of Porirua gets the chance to wag the dog for a change.