In September 2024 the National-led Government passed legislation reintroducing charter schools. This allows for new taxpayer-funded, private schools to be opened from 2025, and should be recognised as a step towards deregulation and privatisation of New Zealand’s education system.
The legislation allows public schools to be converted to privately operated charter schools. In England this approach has quickly led to half of all schools becoming charter schools.
The Conservative Government (which spearheaded charter schools in the UK) has since been forced to admit that there is no conclusive evidence to show that academies have resulted in better educational outcomes overall.
Privately operated charter schools will undermine some of the core principles that have underpinned our public schooling system for decades.
Teachers: Charter schools do not need to appoint qualified and registered teachers
School boards: Democratically elected school boards give public schools a strong connection to their community. In contrast, charter schools will operate according to a contract with a Minister-appointed body.
Curriculum: Charter schools can set their own curriculum and mode of delivery.
Commitment to Te Tiriti: Public schools must take reasonable steps to provide instruction in Te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori. Charter schools do not need to do this.
Less transparency: Public schools are required to make information available to parents who also have rights to seek information through the Official Information Act. There will be no requirement for a charter school to adhere to the same levels of transparency.
Pay and conditions: Charter school legislation means staff at your child’s school may not receive the same pay and conditions as their colleagues in public schools and there are restrictions on how charter school employees can negotiate fair pay.
Resolutions: If things go wrong in a public school the Ministry of Education can intervene, working with the school to get things back on track. If a charter school does not meet its contractual obligations it could be closed, and you could lose your community school.
Safeguarding: Charter schools do not need to follow the education guidelines and safeguards required of public schools.
Worryingly, the process of determining whether a public school should become a charter school can be initiated by any one individual in the school community. Technically a community consultation is required, but the decision to privatise a school does not need to align with community sentiment. Because several months of planning goes into the proposal stage, it is best to get ahead and say NO to privatisation of your school BEFORE it is proposed by making a public stand against conversion.
There are resources below to help you discuss this with your school community and to publicly declare your opposition to privatisation of your local public school.
There is little evidence here or overseas that charter schools make the differences to student achievement that the National-led Government claim they do.
The choice comes down to – do we want a successful public education system, or do we want to open the door to a reduction in educational standards to enable private profit?