May 11, 2017
Hipkins stance angers charter school operator
The head of a Whangarei charter school trust says Labour's Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins has refused to come and see an example of Maori education success.
He Puna Marama Trust runs the secondary school Te Kura Hourua O Whangarei Terenga Paraoa, a primary school and early childhood centre.
Raewyn Tipene says charter schools are bashed by the Labour Party and education sector for ideological reasons, with no acknowledgment they are turning around the statistics for Maori education.
Countering claims charter schools get extra funding, she says her school gets the same base funding as a decile 3 school, but has to find money for buildings and other things state schools take for granted.
"Chris Hipkins, how embarrassing, this redhead from the Labour Party going on and on about Maori education, has no idea. He has never been here, never accepted our offers to come and learn about what we do. That to me is about structural racism. It would be a horrible day for us if that guy gets into a cabinet position where he is speaking on behalf of our people," Ms Tipene says.
She says charter schools have give Maori a chance to say how they want to raise and educate their kids.
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