Genyun Lyu

International student Lester Lyu shares why encouraging more men into early childhood education is vital for creating diverse, inclusive learning environments.

From teaching fine arts to inspiring young minds, Genyun Lyu’s (Lester) journey into the field of early childhood education has been nothing short of transformative. Originally from China, Lester moved to New Zealand in 2017 and has embraced a rewarding career path supporting tamariki in their learning and development.

Having taught fine art part-time since 2017 to children of all ages, the aspiring teacher discovered the joy of fostering growth in young learners. "Through these experiences, I found it incredibly meaningful and rewarding to support young children's learning and development. This inspired me to pursue a career as an early childhood teacher," he shared.

With a strong academic background, Lester continued his educational journey with NZTC which provided him with practical learning opportunities and the flexibility of an online study component. "The affordable tuition fees, coupled with the ability to balance work and studies effectively, made NZTC an ideal choice for me."

Throughout Lester’s qualification, he undertook the course, ‘Inclusive Early Childhood Education’ which is an area he became passionate about because of his own experiences. "As a new migrant and male teacher, I deeply understand the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment,” he said.

Lester has a goal of becoming a fully qualified early childhood teacher specialising in supporting children with diverse needs. Whilst his course work has played a big part in his passion, he also draws inspiration from Associate Teachers and his lecturers. “Their guidance and feedback have shaped my teaching style, and I have learned so much, it has been invaluable to my career."

As Lester reflects on his studies with NZTC and the beginning of his teaching career, he leaves an inspiring message for others. "I would like to encourage more males to consider studying and working in early childhood education. We need more male role models in the sector to support diversity and representation for our tamariki."