Another $15 million to be wasted on failed charter schools policy

Four new schools are to be opened under the Partnership Schools banner in Auckland and Whangarei. QPEC Chair, Bill Courtney, notes that he is most concerned, given the lack of accountability already evident in the programme.

“The Minister and Catherine Isaac have been unable to answer some key questions about the policy and the five existing schools”, Mr. Courtney notes.

“The questions can be summarised as:

Why was the original report that was supposed to advise on the New Zealand charter school model never released?

Why is there such a lack of transparency in dealings around these schools, and why are we pouring millions of taxpayer funds into new entities that are not
accountable via the official information and Ombudsman’s processes?

Why are we constantly told that the schools cost no more “Per Student” than state schools, when Ministry figures tell us that they do?

Why is Catherine Isaac so ill-informed about the failure of the existing charter schools to fill their places, especially when some have seen a role decrease over the period? What does she do in her position and how much is she paid?

Why are new schools being started when the earlier ones, the so-called pilot, have not yet been formally evaluated?

Finally, why, instead of talking down state schools in favour of a completely untried model run by an odd mix of Christian, community and private interests, doesn’t Hekia come up with a plan to assist all state schools to overcome the deleterious effects of child poverty on learning?

ENDS

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