May 28, 2013
Educators make last ditch challenge to charter school bill
The developer of a programme to boost Māori achievement in mainstream schools has signed an open letter to the Government voicing opposition to charter schools.
The Government is promoting the publicly-funded, privately run schools as a fix for Māori and Pasifika under-achievement.
Te Kotahitanga developer, Russell Bishop, is among the 65 education leaders and groups who have signed the letter saying the schools are a serious wrong turn for education.
They point to overseas research showing the schools don’t raise results for those most at need, and warn they will take the focus away from developing the special character and Kura Kaupapa Māori models.
The letter said schools needed to be held accountable by parents, and they need trained and qualified teachers who are supported in an ongoing manner by effective professional development that has shown results.
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