The first wave of New Zealand’s newly established charter schools officially began teaching today, marking what Associate Minister of Education David Seymour calls a “great day for educational achievement.”
The launch includes Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki, Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao, and Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland, with four more set to open in the coming week.
TIPENE (formerly St. Stephen’s College, Bombay), will welcome students on February 6, the BUSY School on February 7, and both North West Creative Arts College and Christchurch North College on February 10.
Seymour said charter schools provide educators with greater autonomy and help diversify the education system, particularly benefiting students who have struggled within traditional schooling structures.
“These schools are fantastic examples of how we can offer families and educators more meaningful educational choices,” Seymour stated, highlighting that charter schools have been shown to improve academic achievement, especially for underperforming or disengaged students.
The Minister also praised the Charter School Agency and the independent Authorisation Board for managing a rigorous selection process, noting that 78 applications were submitted in the first round. With strong demand for more charter schools, Seymour expressed optimism that additional institutions would open in the future, including state and state-integrated schools converting to the new model.
“This is just the beginning,” he said, highlighting the role of charter schools in enhancing educational outcomes, which in turn contribute to better job stability, higher incomes, and stronger community engagement.
Image credit: Element5 Digital
Blah, blah, blah….lets be honest shall we David, education in NZ is a train wreck……
But weren’t you impressed with the ones that passed muster in Aotearoa? Arapaki, Te Rito, Te Kura, Taiao, Tipene.
“We support initiatives to provide education to Māori by Māori however these are best provided by approaches such as kura kaupapa and kura ā iwi, as these retain statutory entitlement for whānau to have a role in governance, allow for impacts on the wider school network to be considered, and keep in place important legislative safeguards for tamariki and their education.”
David must be so proud.
So healthcare is fkd, education, soon primary industries likewise, land management (forests), 1080, debt, power generation, is this deliberate or just stupid DEI hires saturating these areas (I guess I’ve answered my own question)
Wow praising the Charter School Agency that screwed up the whole process. Ask Alwyn Poole the best and most experienced educator in New Zealand. https://substack.com/home/post/p-152223759