Labour MP slams govt's 'stupid move' to reintroduce charter schools

Labour MP Tangi Utikere called the government's plan to reintroduce charter schools "a stupid move", arguing that special character schools are a better approach.

The government's $153 million plan will set up 50 charter schools over the next four yours, 35 of which being state school conversions with the remaining 15 built from the ground up.

Several teacher's unions have slammed the announcement, arguing that the money should instead be funnelled to public school funding.

Labour MP for Palmerston North Tangi Utikere considers the government's announcement "stupid" in light of how many sectors, including education, are facing significant cuts.

"We've had a rollout announcement of changes to healthy lunches and school programmes which will have a huge impact on our Pacific community," Utikere says.

"So at a time when households are continuing to do it tough right now, this is a stupid move by David Seymour and this government."

Labour MP for Palmerston North, Tangi Utikere. Photo/Labour Party

The Ministry of Education (MoE) describes charter schools as a another type of state-funded schools, where educators and parents are afforded "more choice".

By choice, the MoE means freedom in what is taught and how, with the commitment that children are safe, attending school and are demonstrably learning.

RNZ reported that Associate Education Minister David Seymour said charter schools will raise educational achievement as they provide educators greater autonomy, education diversity and freedom from state and union interference.

Utikere argues though that the government's approach to charter schools is the problem, citing the last time National was in government.

"There's no requirement to teach the New Zealand curriculum. These are schools that previously didn't have to have registered teachers.

"The previous government under Labour had made significant moves to ensure that Pacific heritage and culture in NZ history was part of what schools were teaching."

Utikere, who's also a former high school teacher, says building a relevant curriculum for students requires engagement with local communities and whānau.

He adds that the opportunity to have special character schools remains, which are institutes that teach the NZ curriculum but operate through a special philosophical or religious belief.

An example of special character schools is kura kaupapa Māori schools, which are state schools that teach in te reo Māori and are based on Māori culture and values.

"My colleague Lemauga Lydia Sosene was involved in setting up one of those special character schools in her community," Utikere says.

"So, it's not that these things can't be done, it's the vehicle or [how] this is presented is what’s stupid I think.

"Certainly governments need to be prioritising support for Pacific communities, but my view is I don't think charter schools are the right way to go about that."

Watch the full interview via 531pi's Facebook page below: