Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Charter Schools Agency (CSA) has received 78 applications to open new charter schools, or to convert existing state schools to charter schools.
“This shows the demand from educators to free themselves from the shackles of the state system and meet the needs of students who are being failed by the current system,” says Mr Seymour.
“The education sector is facing several challenges, particularly regarding attendance and achievement. The ‘one size fits all’ model offered by the current school system struggles to address these challenges.”
Funding provided by Budget 24 will allow 15 new charter schools and the conversion of 35 state schools to charter schools in 2025 and 2026 depending on demand and suitability.
“Due to demand outstripping the funding made available in Budget 24, I acknowledge some sponsors will be disappointed when final decisions are made by the CSA,” says Mr Seymour.
It is good that there are more applications than capacity at this stage, as it should mean only the most convincing applications proceed.
“Charter schools will be subject to a high level of monitoring and accountability and could be shut down if they do not achieve the outcomes they were funded to achieve.
Imagine if that applied to all schools – you face closure if you don’t achieve agreed upon outcomes!
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
1 comment:
Surely this number of applications indicates many schools ,teachers and parents are dissatisfied with our present education system. When are the Min of Miseducation going to accept this ?
I would suggest those who can't have their children attend a school of their choice do home schooling . Get together with other parents and share supervision. Really , the basics at primary can be covered in two or three hours in the morning with perhaps workbooks like the Australian Excel Maths series and English writing books of Scholastic 'Writing Skills Builder". Alternatively have your child spend time doing these workbooks after school. The NZCER spelling list books are on sale in shops and the internet has an enormous number of free downloads in learning to read with phonics.
Homeschooling groups have been going for 45 years, in NZ and have some good programmes and advice.
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