Do not gamble with state education, Mr Key

National must rule out gambling with New Zealand’s State education system and categorically dismiss ACT’s dangerous charter schools plan, Labour Leader David Cunliffe said.

“In media this morning John Key appeared to put a dollar each way on ACT’s proposal to issue vouchers for state schools, saying ‘I think they’d work really effectively … but I wouldn’t want to mix the two too much.’

“Voters need to know exactly where National stands on this critical issue.

“A world-leading state education for all New Zealanders is at the heart of Labour plans for addressing inequality and developing the skills we need to become a diverse, innovative, 21st century economy.

“This does not include spending approximately three times more funding per pupil in these so-called ‘partnership’ schools, while absolving them from following a national curriculum, employing qualified teachers or making their actions and performance transparent through the Official Information Act – which is what this government’s policy now allows.

“ACT’s reckless plans will undermine state education and lead to a divided and dysfunctional system.

“This same experiment in free-market education has failed to lift standards in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

“Labour will invest in our schools, our teachers and in all our children so that they have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

“Mr Key must rule out once and for all this damaging, far-right ideological gamble with our children’s future,’’ said David Cunliffe.

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