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The head of a charter school support group is rubbishing the Principals Federation’s claim mainstream schools are now better equipped to meet the needs of Maori students.
The Federation is backing the Government’s move to turn the 11 charter schools into special character schools.
President Whetu Cormick says there is no proof the schools have met their target of improving outcomes for Maori, and there are now a number of excellent initiatives being implemented in many public schools to address the issues that have led to Maori and Pacific students disengaging from learning.
But Graeme Osborne from E Tipu E Rea says there is no basis for that optimism.
"You can look at NCEA results and say yes, Pasifika and Maori results are improving, but the counter argument is these are soft options behind that, and if you look at OECD numeracy and literacy rates, and even the Tertiary Education Commission conceded that 40 percent of young people leaving school with level 2 NCEA or better are functionally illiterate," he says.
Mr Osborne says no good reason has been given for closing partnership schools.
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