Educators welcome anti-charter school bill

Educators welcome anti-charter school bill

7 April 2016

NZEI Te Riu Roa is pleased that the abolition of charter schools will be considered by parliament, following the drawing of Chris Hipkins’ private members’ bill from the ballot.

National Secretary Paul Goulter says this is good timing because it gives the government an opportunity to admit that charter schools are a failed experiment.

“We would urge the government to talk to educators and to come up with real solutions to children not succeeding at school such as addressing poverty and the country's ballooning inequality.

“All New Zealand children deserve to be taught in a properly funded public education system by qualified teachers.

“Whatever way you look at it, it is clear charter schools have been a failure.

“They have failed to attract the number of students they promised and they are clearly not accountable.

“We’re still waiting to hear whether the New Zealand taxpayer will get back any of the millions of dollars that have been sunk into the failed Whangaruru charter school, including money spent on the purchase of a farm.

“This bill is an opportunity to have a discussion about how best to help all children succeed at school.”

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