NZEI opposes plan to allow universities to sponsor charter schools

9 March 2016

NZEI Te Riu Roa says the Government’s proposal to allow universities to sponsor charter schools is another desperate attempt to embed the failed model of schooling.

Speaking at the Education and Science Select Committee this morning, NZEI Te Riu Roa National Secretary Paul Goulter said the Education Legislation Bill proposes a number of radical changes to our education sector.

He said the Government has tried to portray the proposed legislation as a “tidying up” bill to modernise legislation but this is far from reality.

“There are a lot of proposed changes that are cause for concern and this includes enabling tertiary education institutions to sponsor charter schools.

“It is clear that there has not been the level of support or interest in charter schools that the Government had hoped for and it is now desperately looking for new ways to support the model."

He said allowing universities and waananga to set up charter schools is a conflict of interest, particularly for any tertiary institution associated with the training of teachers, as charter schools do not require 100 percent trained and qualified teachers.

“The original stated intent of charter schools was to place the risk of charter school failure onto private providers. However, by allowing public institutions to sponsor charter schools, once again the taxpayer takes on the risk."

ENDS

© Scoop Media