Educational Project

Institutional Educational Project (PEI)

Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts – Last updated: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

The Institutional Educational Project (PEI) of the Toki School of Music and Arts is a technical planning and management tool that guides the educational work of our institution.

Our vision, mission, principles and values provide direction for all pedagogical actions carried out by the educational community. Over time, this collective commitment aims to reflect these principles in each student.

The foundations of our PEI are based on a set of philosophical, political and technical statements, with a strong focus on ancestral values:

Moʻa: Respect. Every member of the educational community, as well as the environment, society and culture, deserves to be treated with respect.

Umanga: Collaborative work for the common good.

Tapu: Sacred. Our children and our learning space are tapu—protected and cared for.

Here: Love as the foundation of our work and what we seek to cultivate. The bonds that unite our educational community.

REVIEW
Until 2011, there was no space on Rapa Nui where children and young people could develop their talent in a structured and methodical way in the field of classical music, with a curriculum of the highest standards and specialized teachers for each instrument. This reality left the community with only two options: either leave the island to pursue studies of this kind—along with the cultural loss that departure implied—or give up that dream entirely.

In 2012, the first pianos arrived with a visiting teacher, marking the starting point of what would later become the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts. Over time, new classical and traditional rapa nui disciplines were added, each with their respective teachers. However, as the project grew, it still did not have its own space and operated in different locations across the island.

In 2014, construction of the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts began, thanks to the support of more than 340 volunteers. The building was inaugurated in early 2016. This fully self-sustainable structure sought to become an example for the world and to offer solutions to several of the island’s challenges, such as excess waste, energy shortages, and lack of water.

1. EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT

1.1 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts is a nonprofit institution and part of Toki NGO. Its mission is to offer students a holistic education that includes music instruction as well as the values linked to its practice, such as perseverance, respect, environmental awareness, and the preservation of traditions.

The School of Music and Arts Toki Rapa Nui has a full academic program and annual plans for the Piano, Violin, Cello, and Musical Training departments, as well as introductory programs for beginners. Classes are complemented with concerts and extracurricular workshops designed to strengthen the school’s value-based approach.

The curriculum and programs for the ancestral arts area are currently in development and represent one of our major challenges for the coming years.

1.2 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts recognizes that each student’s family is their primary educator, and sees its own role as complementary to that responsibility. It is essential that parents and guardians commit to supporting students’ learning processes and participate actively in the educational life of the organization.

2. PEDAGOGICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1. STUDENT PROFILE
As educators, the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts ensures ongoing professional development for its team and is responsible for monitoring and supporting teachers in their pedagogical practices.

Students at the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts grow and mature through the principles and values fostered by the institution, using music and the arts as tools to develop into individuals with the following characteristics:

A student with cognitive, artistic, and cultural abilities, demonstrating strong social and ethical commitment, solidarity, and empathy.

A confident and participatory student, capable of communicating and expressing their ideas among peers or within a work group.

A student who respects the environment, with ecological awareness and a desire to become an agent of change for sustainable growth.

A student who respects rapa nui culture in all its forms of expression, capable of maintaining a global perspective while also nurturing affection for their roots.

A student with civic values, who prioritizes freedom and tolerance, and is capable of leading and organizing group activities.

A student of integrity, respectful toward the community, supportive, responsible, and committed to fulfilling agreements.

A student who welcomes and seeks integration within their surroundings through reconciliation and music, despite any differences that may exist.

2.2 FUNDAMENTAL PEDAGOGICAL ASPIRATIONS
2.2.1 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts aims to provide its students with a comprehensive, high-quality education that awakens their interest and motivation to learn and think critically.

To achieve this objective, it is essential to focus on students and their learning processes; to plan effectively in order to enhance learning; to share musical practice through attentive and respectful listening; and to experience the values of mo‘a (respect), umanga (working collaboratively for the common good), tapu (sacredness), and here (love).

In the pursuit of excellence, teachers accompany each student to ensure they develop the profile described above.

2.2.2 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts seeks to be a space for the preservation of the island’s ancestral and cultural traditions. Its work emphasizes the remembrance of the rapa nui worldview through teaching practices and cultural activities, as well as a conscious effort to safeguard cultural and linguistic heritage, with a special focus on music.

2.2.3 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts aims to develop in close interaction with the geographical and social environment, both in the teaching of its content and in the use of diverse spaces and contexts. It also seeks to establish connections with other educational institutions and maintain strong relationships with local organizations and entities, expanding networks of collaboration and support.

2.2.4 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts plays a significant role in building a better society by promoting the emergence of change that begins within the most intimate circles of the educational community and extends outward. With a strong emphasis on values, it seeks to ensure that students feel fulfilled as they gradually realize their potential and that they grow to build a sense of belonging within this community, where they are validated as complete and valuable human beings.

2.2.5 The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts understands itself as an educational community composed of students, teachers, parents and guardians, administrative staff, and operational personnel, all of whom must work together to ensure an optimal environment for the comprehensive development of the students.

3. CURRICULUM
The commitment of this educational community and the study programs and workshops offered aim, from an academic perspective, to ensure that graduating students are young individuals with artistic and cultural preparation and equipped with tools to pursue higher education or enter the workforce.

Graduates of the instrument programs are students who have officially completed their curricular requirements, which may vary depending on the selected instrument or artistic discipline. Upon finishing, they will receive certification of completion of the basic or intermediate cycle, depending on their level.

The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts also offers workshops aimed at bringing children and young people closer to rapa nui culture, with an emphasis on the use of the language and traditional artistic expressions.

Regularly, teacher concerts are held with the goal of bringing this type of music closer to the community and maintaining the high artistic standard of each educator. Student concerts are also organized to showcase their progress, empower them, and give them the confidence needed to continue their learning process. Concerts and presentations from different disciplines are offered together on large stages or special occasions, and extracurricular activities are carried out, such as masterclasses and performances with guest musicians.

The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts also offers talks and workshops related to environmental awareness and the implementation of sustainable practices. This approach is essential to the holistic education of the student.

4. ORGANIZATION

The Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts is currently the main active project of TOKI NGO, a foundation that, since its beginnings, has worked to ensure the continuity of the educational and cultural initiative.

Toki Board of Directors
The Board is composed of rapa nui members who ensure that the foundation’s mission and vision are upheld. It establishes the guidelines to follow, appoints the person who will assume the role of General Coordinator, and oversees their management.

General Management and Administrative Team – Toki NGO
The General Coordination is responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the foundation and all of its activities. It coordinates different areas in their daily operational needs and ensures compliance with the PEI (Institutional Educational Project).

The administrative team is essential for the organization’s work and specifically for the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts, as it fulfills the institution’s legal requirements, manages fundraising and expense planning, and coordinates various actions that benefit the island.

Coordination – Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts
The school’s coordination team is responsible for directing and implementing actions required to carry out the PEI; developing actions to achieve the establishment’s goals and objectives; managing the school’s relationship with the community; and ensuring a positive organizational climate.

Academic Direction – Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts
The Academic Direction is responsible for ensuring the quality of the programs implemented, monitoring and applying improvements to the educational process, reviewing the curriculum, ensuring correct implementation, supervising the execution of the PEI, and verifying that the school’s objectives are being met.

Teaching Team – Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts
The teaching team is composed of all the educators of the Toki Rapa Nui School of Music and Arts, who meet weekly to address academic, formative, and organizational matters.

5. FOUNDATIONS
5.1. MISSION: To inspire, preserve, and transmit the cultural richness of Rapa Nui through a transformative and holistic education that integrates classical music and ancestral knowledge.
5.2. VISION: To be a space where children and young people can develop their talents in a safe environment, preserving their identity and promoting their well-being through an integral and sustainable education.