Three charter schools have opened their doors today, as the Government says the first wave of new institutions will help give families more “meaningful educational choice”.
The three schools are Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki; Te Rito, Te Kura Taiao; and Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland.
Four other schools will open over the next seven days.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour said the first lessons would be getting underway at the three schools this morning.
“This is another significant step in the Government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in New Zealand,” he said in a media release.
“Charter schools provide educators with greater autonomy and create diversity in New Zealand’s education system.
“This announcement is a significant step in the Government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in NZ,” said the Associate Education Minister. (Source: 1News)
“They have been proven to raise overall educational achievement, especially for students who are underachieving or disengaged from the standard system.
“Every child deserves an education that gives them the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are more specific to their needs.
“The seven charter schools which open over the next week are all fantastic examples of schools that give families and educators more meaningful educational choice and support.”
The remaining schools – Tipene, The Busy School, North West Creative Arts College and Christchurch North College – will open their doors between February 6 and 10.
Seymour said the first wave of schools would be “just the beginning”.
He said: “This is just the beginning. I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.
NZEI president Mark Potter says the evidence suggests charter schools do not deliver on what they promise. (Source: Breakfast)
“The huge demand to open charter schools not only highlights the need, but also the commitment of people to provide varied educational opportunities for young New Zealanders to maximise educational outcomes.”
The Charter School Agency and an independent Authorisation Board processed 78 applications to open charter schools in the Government’s first round of the process.
