Former Prime Minister David Lange has criticised the Government for commercialising schools and viewing schools as businesses.

Tomorrow’s Schools, the major education reform of the last Labour Government and brainchild of Mr Lange, aimed at providing equality of opportunity for every child, he says.

But today, Mr Lange says, education is heading down a commercially structured path which cannot guarantee every child an equal opportunity in schooling.

The market model, he says, conflicts with the public sector and bureaucrats are either too protective of schools or treat them like businesses.

He is calling for the Education Review Office to remain separate from the Government Education Ministry and says the ERO is performing well as an independent body.

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