First Charter Schools open, more to Follow says Seymour

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.

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