Having joined the Teach First NZ Programme as part of Cohort 2020, Jayatheeswaran (Jay) Vijayakumar, a former medical doctor, has transformed his passion
for the sciences into a force for change in the Bay of Islands community. Currently the Head of Science at Bay of Islands College, Jay has been instrumental in shifting perceptions of the sciences among students in the region, ensuring its relevance to their lives and aspirations. “I wanted to see students fall in love with the sciences, having witnessed too many drift away at an early age. My journey has been about re-storying what science means—connecting it to culture, community, and real-world problem-solving.
Education, for me, is a practice of freedom, a means to nurture critical thinkers and leaders.” Jay’s work is also the focus of his current Master’s project, as a candidate for Ako Mātātupu’s Master of Community Action and Social Impact (MCASI). Grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, his research explores how culturally responsive teaching can dismantle systemic inequities and empower learners.
“Ako Mātātupu has deepened my understanding of education as a transformative tool—one that can dismantle barriers and inspire collective action.
This kaupapa is about ensuring our tamariki thrive, not just survive, in a world that too often marginalises their voices.”
Drawing from his experiences, Jay’s classroom initiatives blend indigenous knowledge, hands-on science, and technology, to amplify the voices of his students and their whānau, fostering agency and resilience. Due to complete his Master’s in June 2025, Jay’s project will showcase the impact of embedding culturally responsive practices into science education, centring the needs and aspirations of his learners and their communities. Through this work, Jay continues to honour the principles of Te Tiriti by protecting and elevating the mana of all learners in the Bay of Islands and beyond.
Jayatheeswaarn Vijayakumar, Te Ururoa, C20 & Master of Community Action and Social Impact Candidate
