There was a lot of fun, laughter and spoken Portuguese as a busload principals from Brazil recently descended on the grounds of Howick College.
A rousing welcome by the kapa haka group along with a line-up of excited Brazilian students studying at the college welcomed 47 principals who were there to learn about innovative and sustainable learning pathways introduced by Howick College.
On a seven-day tour of New Zealand, the educators were on a whistle-stop tour of eight schools and universities in Auckland and Wellington.
Joao Paulo Salgueiro from Salgueiro School said the group is part of the UNESCO Associated School Programme (ASP) that connects good teaching practices on a global level.
The UNESCO values of diversity, peace, tolerance, human rights and cultural heritage are upheld whilst
looking at sustainable development goals in education, he says.
“We travel once a year to different countries known for good quality education. Canada, Japan and Netherlands France and Spain are the other countries the group has travelled to recently,” he said.
Another principal, Paulo Pereira, says that 11,000 schools in 180 countries around the world are part of UNESCO ASP.
Mike Stanghan, business manager and international director, says Howick College has always been the college of choice for Brazilian students and “the long-standing relations has culminated in this trip where principals get to learn about the education system in New Zealand and understand the differences an innovations”.
