Free Press: ACT’s regular bulletin
Defending the Right to Choose
This week, Free Press reviews Labour and the teacher unions’ reflexive and self-interested opposition to Partnership
Schools Kura Hourua.
Strong Demand
Opposition to Partnership Schools runs against demand from educators and families. Twenty-six different groups applied
for an advertised two contracts in the latest application round. In addition, existing schools have filled rapidly and
in some cases have had to construct waiting lists.
Maori Backing the Policy
Perhaps due to the poor outcomes in other school types, and the early success of Kura Hourua, the Iwi Leaders’ Forum
declared an official position supporting the policy in 2015. Labour, despite hoping to win Maori seats in 2017, have not
acknowledged this.
Registered Teachers Not a Panacea
Opponents haven’t traded in the facts when it comes to Partnership Schools. One example is that they say Partnership
Schools employ ‘unqualified teachers.’ The law allows Partnership Schools to nominate a percentage of positions to be
filled by staff not registered with EDUCANZ if they have the ‘skills, qualifications and experience’ to help kids.
Several Partnership Schools have used this freedom to hire outstanding individuals.
Funding the Same
Opponents are misleading the public that Partnership Schools are funded at a higher rate than other schools. As recently
as a week ago Hipkins had said Partnership Schools were funded at five times the rate of State Schools. We suspect he’s
known all along that all schools are funded more at start up and per student funding declines as the school approaches
its target roll.
Hipkins not Doing his Job
Chris Hipkins has asked only 30 questions on education since the election, and ten of them were about Partnership
Schools. By contrast, the hard working Labour Health spokesperson Annette King has asked 45 questions about a wide range
of health issues this term.
…Not Even Visiting a Partnership School
Chris Hipkins could promise to visit all Partnership Schools and apologise to the staff, students and community for
spreading misinformation about them. This would be a particularly brave and magnanimous move from someone who has
previously declined all invitations from the schools.
Early Results Promising
ERO reports from new Partnership Schools have been glowing, for example: “Students respond positively to teachers’ high
expectations. The students we talked to were very positive about the school. They reported that they get plenty of
individual help from their teachers, and that, while some of the work is hard, they enjoy the challenge and variety of
learning in this way.”
Charter Schools Succeeding Overseas
After claiming that charter schools have failed overseas, it’s time for opponents to accept they were wrong all along,
with evidence from Stanford University’s Center for Research in Educational Outcomes on the U.S., the C.D. Howe
Institute on Canada, and the Institute for Economic Affairs on Sweden showing the opposite.
Fast Closure is a Strength
The policy has closed Whangaruru school Te Pumanawa o te Wairua, having given it one chance to improve its operations.
Poorly performing schools should be closed regardless of type and Partnership Schools allow this to happen.
Greater Accountability
Partnership Schools are required to file quarterly reports to the Authorisation Board in addition to ERO reviews. They
can have their contracts terminated for breaching performance targets, as Te Pumanawa discovered. No New Zealand schools
have ever been held to this level of accountability.
Live and Let Live
Opponents of Partnership Schools require a basic change in attitude. Partnership Schools are a useful initiative that
may address one of our country’s more urgent challenges, educational inequality. These schools are filled with real
people deserving of respect and should not be politically abused.
Sadly…
Despite wonderful people doing wonderful things for kids in Partnership Schools Kura Hourua, Labour and the teachers’
unions can’t help but feel threatened so knock the schools at every opportunity.
The Luck of the Draw
Sadly Chris Hipkins’ Charter Schools Abolition Bill has been drawn from the members’ ballot and, if passed, it would end
the policy and the schools as we know them. The Bill will not pass, but it is rather irritating. If you are a supporter
of Partnership Schools Kura Hourua and believe in educational choice, please write to your local MP expressing your
opposition to this Bill.
ends