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Education Minister Hekia Parata is expecting a keen response from Maori for the third round of applications to set up partnership schools.
The Principals Federation says it's time to put a stop to any more of the publicly-funded private schools, because international results show New Zealand teachers are among the most professional in the world.
Ms Parata says that's a self-reported result showing teachers are confident about their teaching practice, but it doesn't take away the need for a wide range of choices being available for parents and children.
She says that's kura hourua are a good fit with Maori groups.
"Seventy five percent of their roll must be our priority learners, they must be Maori, Pasifika, kids who have been struggling at other schools, who haven't been successful. So these guys take on by definition some of the biggest challenges in our education system and it would be pretty good if people gave them a break and supported them to be successful," Ms Parata says.
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