The Government’s proposal to create a new partnership with the private sector with the establishment of Charter Schools will see the light of the day, despite voices of protest coming from various quarters across the country.
With the numbers in tact in Parliament, the concept, a bargain that ACT Party struck with National in forming the second-term Government last year, will become a reality.
The first of these schools will open in Christchurch in 2014.
ACT Leader John Banks, who is also Associate Education Minister in the National-led coalition Government, believes that Charter Schools, also known as ‘Partnership Schools’ and ‘Kura Hourua,’ would provide an additional option for parents and children.
Charter schools can set their own staff pay rates, choose their own staff and set curriculum and term dates.
Mr Banks admitted that these schools were not for all New Zealanders.
In a joint statement issued with Education Minister Hekia Parata, he announced a framework for the New Zealand Model in Wellington on August 2.
Raising achievement
Mrs Parata said that the Charter Schools would focus on raising achievement for all pupils, particularly for those historically let down by the current system.
Mr Banks said that parents should have an opportunity to choose what works for their family, adding that the new model would allow non-registered staff to teach in classrooms of these schools.
“This is not the same as not being qualified. As it is, teachers registered with the Teachers’ Council are just one of many types of personnel in the existing system.
“There are already early childhood educators, volunteers and teachers under the Limited Authority to Teach category, tertiary educators, trade courses and staff at Private Training Establishments who are teaching but are not registered with the Teachers’ Council,” Mr Banks said.
Clever Option
He claimed that Chartered Schools were a ‘clever option,’ and that the concept was a part of New Zealand’s constant drive to improve its education system.
“In striving to aim for success for all, we must recognise that one size does not fit all. Partnership Schools are another choice for parents and learners,” he said.
However, not everyone welcomed the idea.
According to student unions, trade unions and some principals and headmasters, Charter School have the potential to create more problems to educators, learners and parents in the long run.
A number of them told the Christchurch Press that employment of untrained teachers would impair academic achievement.
The newspaper released some details obtained under the Official Information Act stating that the Canterbury Ballet Academy and a “small group of educators” had indicated an interest in opening charter schools in Christchurch.
“However, they must abide by the national standards and must offer National Certificate of Educational Achievement or equivalent recognised qualifications.”
Unidentified problems
The Press quoted Linwood Intermediate School Principal and Chairman of the Christchurch Association of Intermediate and Middle Schooling Lee Walker as saying that he was not sure if the Chartered School would find answers to existing problems.
“Where is the rationale with what the problem is?” he asked.
“Initially it was the education system that was failing. Then, after Charter Schools were announced for Christchurch, it was that the schools in the eastern suburbs were failing. Nobody has ever said what those schools are failing on.”
As reported in this column earlier, Mr Banks believes that Charter Schools will lift educational achievement in low-deciles areas and disadvantaged communities, where education underperformance has become the norm.
American experience
As the merits or otherwise of the concept and the relevance of Charter Schools to New Zealand are being discussed, the Government says that it was encouraged by the success of the system in the US.
But according to a recent study in the US, Charter Schools have not delivered the level of quality education intended. It said only 17% of the Charter Schools were superior to public schools, 37% were worse than public schools and 46% had academic gains similar to public schools.
Studies in Sweden and other countries in Europe showed similar results.
But experts believe that the rise of Charter Schools in the US has brought dynamism as these institutions are aimed at the poorest parts of the society, where aspirations are often low.
The Press also quoted New Zealand Educational Institute President Ian Leckie as saying that employment of untrained teachers would not raise pupil achievement.
“How can the Government say that it wants to improve the quality of teaching while at the same time allowing unqualified teachers into the system?” he said.
Post Primary Teachers’ Association General Secretary Kevin Bunker said it was ‘crazy’ that skilled tradesmen had to be registered, but not teachers at Charter Schools.
