Charter schooling is, fundamentally the privatization of education. Schools will now be able to be run by such as private businesses, church groups, iwi organisations, charities, or existing schools.
John Banks was also made Associate Minister of Education.
NZ Educational Institute president Ian Leckie said the Government had no mandate for charter schools. Indeed, Charter Schooling was not discussed by any party pre the election.
"Overseas experience shows they can take students and money away from existing schools, undermine communities and increase social segregation. They are also less accountable.
"New Zealanders should be very concerned that Act is suddenly shaping and dictating key education policy." said Leckie.
Sue Moroney, Labour's education spokesperson has called it "bulk-funding in drag" which exposed National's true colours.
Personally, I think this is the first example (of many to come) of National using the Act scape-goat to push through a more right-wing policy that may not be popular with the more central National supporters. Also, the inclusion of allowing Iwi to run publicly funded schools privately is, in my opinion, a cynical carrot being offered to woo The Maori Party who are still considering their options as to whether to go into coalition with this National led government.
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National have a real coup here, because they can push through far-right policy now and use Banks as their whipping boy. I read National's education policy a few weeks ago - it was released right at the last minute - and there was little to sugest such a radical approach.
ReplyDeleteNow that Banks is deputy minister of education we now have two people who have no idea about education deciding the fate of the New Zealand education system.
A good article about Charter Schools -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/nov/11/myth-charter-schools/?pagination=false
A short i'v on RNZ this morning: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2504171/case-study-charter-schools-in-the-us.asx
ReplyDeleteForeshadowed by the appointment of Lesley Longstone as Secretary of Education though, surely?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ppta.org.nz/index.php/communities/president-page/1912-come-go