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An advocate for charter schools says the futures of 1500 vulnerable students have been put at the mercy of ideology with no regard for common sense or statistics.
The Government has offered the 12 kura hourua or partnership schools the choice of becoming designated character schools or integrated schools under the state system, or closing.
Graeme Osborne from support organisation E Tipu E Rea says that’s despite the great results of schools like Whāngarei’s Te Kāpehu Whetū, which last year had a 64 percent pass rate in the university entrance exam.
He says schools are set to lose the self determination that allowed them to connect with their communities and the bulk funding which gave them flexibility to innovate.
"The Minister has taken no account of the evidence of success of the schools. He's said that in his impact statement. He has not consulted with any affected parties, including students,schools, communities. That is a clear breach of his obligations as a Treaty partner," he says.
Graeme Osborne says a Treaty of Waitangi claim taken by Sir Toby Curtis and Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi is a chance to get the issues aired.
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