Charter school experiment must stop

The Government must rule out opening any more charter schools, as the first of the experimental schools has just been told it is closing, the Green Party said today.

The Minister of Education Hekia Parata has today given Whangaruru School in Northland a month to respond to her decision to close the school. A further 26 charter schools have applied to open in 2017.

“The experience of the children who were experimented on in Northland should never be allowed to be repeated on others,” Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today.

“The Minister of Education must not wash her hands of the children of Whangaruru. These kids were the unwitting victims of the charter school experiment and the Minister must now promise all the resources that they need to ensure their education can be salvaged.

“It is particularly concerning that Hekia Parata chose to open Whangaruru in the first place as the Ministry of Education had raised concerns that it was not ready. Those concerns were repeatedly overruled.

“The resources that went into propping up a school that was never ready to open was a waste that could have been spent on supporting these students properly.

“There was never any evidence that charter schools would do well by Māori, kids with special needs and those from poorer families – the groups who are supposed to be the priority students for enrolment.

“It defies belief that the Government would plough ahead with another round of charter schools when the programme has been so plagued by problems.

“The charter school experiment must be stopped now, before any more children are hurt,” Ms Delahunty said.

Latest Education Announcements

Story

Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh

In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Se...
Read More

Story

Green Party appalled by woeful Government offer to school support staff

Support staff across Aotearoa have been dealt yet another devastating blow with the release of the latest collective agreement offer from the Gover...
Read More

Story

Greens call on Govt to leave Te Reo in schools alone

As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori approaches, the Government is considering deprioritising teaching Te Reo Māori in our schools. 
Read More

Story

ECE teachers deserve better than this Government

The Green Party is unsurprised but disappointed by today’s announcement from the Government that will see our Early Childhood Centre teachers under...
Read More

Story

Charter schools not a serious solution

We need serious investment and solutions into our education system, not a vanity project from David Seymour. 
Read More

Story

Time to get serious on delivering for families

The Green Party calls on the Government to get serious about supporting families.
Read More