Charter Schools Funded For Failure
‘Unbelievable’, was the response from the President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF), Iain Taylor, on
hearing that all of the charter schools established in 2014, with the exception of the one shut down for poor
performance, have received an extra one percent of their budgets.
It is understood that the extra money is in recognition of the schools fulfilling their agreed performance targets.
‘What is so preposterous,’ said Taylor, ‘is that they got all this extra money for succeeding even though they failed!’
Charter schools have been an unwelcome blot on the education landscape since their introduction because they have
siphoned significant funds away from schools that need the money to implement effective programmes for special needs
students and other priority learners.
‘This nonsense has got to stop,’ said Taylor. ‘We are a small country and trying to spread a limited education budget
across our own high performing schools is hard enough without swilling precious funds down the drains of failing charter
schools,’ he said.
ENDS