6 May 2015

National sells out public education through TiSA agreement

National is selling out our public education system by signing New Zealand up to the Trade in Service Agreement (TiSA), Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said today.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today confirmed in the House that the Government is willing to support TiSA even though it may mean giving foreign corporations the opportunity to sue any future Government that wants to protect public education. The Minister claimed in parliament that TiSA only applied to private schools ignoring the fact that TiSA will assist foreign franchises to undermine public education and services by privileging private foreign providers.

“If education is included in TiSA, large foreign profit making educational franchises would be able to sue if New Zealand tried to stop them setting up schools,” said Ms Delahunty.

“If National goes ahead and includes education in TiSA large foreign education franchises will be able to demand entry to New Zealand, and run schools that don’t follow the New Zealand curriculum and charge huge fees?

“Other countries have seen the danger of these moves.

“New Zealand should follow the European Union, Japan, Korea and Taiwan in opposing the inclusion of education in the TiSA,” Ms Delahunty said.

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