Iwi forum fighting for charter schools

The Government looks set to face tough questions from iwi leaders at Waitangi next year over plans to close charter schools.

National Party leader Bill English says the Iwi Chairs Forum (ICF), like his own party, can’t understand why the Government is being so ‘‘bloody minded’’ about closing the schools down.

The Labour-led Government is following through on its campaign promise to shut down charter schools and is working with each one to see if they can transition to a special character school.

Education Minister Hipkins has written Chris to the sponsors of the country’s 10 charter schools saying the Ministry of Education will meet with them in February, but until then all contractual agreements remain in place.

However, the ICF has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and several Ministers including Kelvin Davis, Nanaia Mahuta and Willie Jackson, saying they have concerns with any potential closures.

It’s understood the ICF is suggesting closing the schools could breach Treaty of Waitangi principles.

‘‘There’s over 1000 children at these schools, many of whom were not in schools before, many of whom I’ve met who have done a lot better in a different environment, and they can’t understand why the Government is setting out so ruthlessly to shut down those schools and deprive those kids of the opportunities they have,’’ English said.

In the lead-up to the election Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said he would resign if any of the charter schools in his electorate were forced to close. He said it was an easy promise to make because the schools would only change in name. Both Jackson and Tamaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare also have ties to charter schools.

Davis, who is Crown/Ma¯ori Relations Minister, said a letter had been received from the ICF requesting a meeting with Ardern and Ministers at Waitangi on February 2.

‘‘They want to discuss a range of topics. We do plan to have conversations with the Iwi Chairs Forum but have not responded to them yet.’’

Davis said the Government was committed to raising the education achievement of all Ma¯ori children, ‘‘not experimenting on a few of them’’.

Asked if experimenting on Ma¯ori children would continue if the schools remained open under another model, Davis said, ‘‘there’s different means for them to remain open but within the rules that other schools have to’’.

‘‘We’re just looking at all the options.’’