Charter Schools Outrageous Attack On Democracy

6 March 2013

Media Release:

Charter Schools Outrageous Attack On Democracy

Today’s Ministry of Education release requesting applications for charter schools before the legislation allowing them has been agreed by parliament is outrageous.

The applications have to be in by 16 April – two days before the Select Committee even reports back to parliament.

How could anyone prepare an application without knowing –

- if they will be allowed to employ unregistered teachers?
- if the Official Information Act and Ombudsman checks will apply to them or not?
- how much funding will be available to run the school?

It can only be that the legislation will go through unchanged and the select committee process is a joke.

This latest abuse of our parliamentary process through charter schools is a disgrace to democracy.

The Ministry has also confirmed in its release that the Authorisation Board which is to approve charter school applications will be the same group which evaluates these schools.

Such a conflict of interest is unacceptable and ensures there will not be proper accountability for these schools. Those approving the schools will inevitably back their decision even in the face of egregious failure.

John Minto
National Chairperson
QPEC

ENDS

© Scoop Media