Dogmatic education ideas are troubling

OUR education system is in deep trouble. Without any serious consultation, an ideological Education Minister Chris Hipkins, strongly supported by an equally ideological Prime Minister, is hellbent on making drastic changes.

The decision to close all charter schools is a classic example. Without having visited any of these successful schools, having not bothered to seek the views of the relevant parents, and having ignored the independent analysis of the positive impact they are having on students for whom the state system fails, he forges ahead.

The minister has given no valid reason for closing these schools that have been an outstanding success, especially for Maori and Pacific Island pupils.

The real reason, of course, is twofold.

Firstly, an ideological belief that only the state can provide satisfactory education for everyone. And, secondly, to satisfy the irrational demands of the militant, leftwing teacher unions, for whom charter schools are anathema, simply because they are truly independent, private and succeed with a class of pupil for whom the state onesizefitsall system fails.

Moreover, it is both surprising and more than disappointing that the

Maori and Pacific Island caucus in the governing coalition have been heard only by their deafening silence. Shame on them. Vince Ashworth

Morrinsville

Speed it up, please

I READ the report (ODT, 7.7.18) regarding Dunedin’s ‘‘fastest’’ fibre internet with something approaching incredulity.

Speeds of 265Mbps! I have been connected to the Chorus fibre network for some months now but have experienced nothing like that speed.

I have checked with various sites, including Chorus itself, and have yet to see speeds above 55Mbps.

Am I missing something or is someone making impossible claims about the speeds available?

Stewart Springer

St Leonards