Labour MP Kelvin Davis says Maori are being used to bolster the case for charter schools because it’s the only option they are offered to meet their educational aspirations.
The Government support party ACT has won funding for another seven charter schools in this week’s budget, while on the other side a members bill in the name of Labour education spokesperson Chris Hipkins will seek to end the experiment.
Mr Davis says before returning to parliament as MP for Te Taitokerau he worked with iwi in the north to develop education plans.
He says every one wanted their own charter schools because they saw it as a way to exercise their rangatiratanga, but it’s a risky strategy.
"When you privatise education there is perception there is a lack of fairness between what is in effect a private school and the state schools. We do have special character schools in the Education Act already. I'm sure there is flexibility for charter schools to become special character schools, maintain their special character, but things be dealt with on a more level playing field," Mr Davis says.
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