Minister signals end of road for charter schools

Education Minister Chris Hipkins is closing the door on future charter schools and giving existing ones notice he can make them close up shop by the end of the school year — though he still hasn’t visited one as minister.

Hipkins introduced the Education Amendment Bill yesterday, which would formally end National Standards and charter schools.

“The Government’s strong view is that there is no place for them in the New Zealand education system,” he said.

Schools will continue to be required to report to parents at least twice a year on their child’s progress.

The National Party has strongly opposed dumping National Standards and charter schools, and repeatedly called on the Government to visit a charter school, such as the Vanguard Military School in Albany.

A spokesman for the minister said Hipkins had visited charter schools in Opposition.

The bill would mean an end to future charter schools, and allow existing ones to continue while the Ministry of Educa- tion considers options — such as becoming a designated character school — on a caseby-case system.

Unlike charter schools, a character school is part of the public education system, is funded like other state schools, and must adhere to the national curriculum.

Five charter schools planned this year will no longer open. Eleven existing ones have a combined roll of about 1300 students.

Hipkins wants existing charter schools to wind up before the end of their contracts by mutual agreement.

“If, however, early termination is not agreed by both parties, I am reserving my right to issue a notice of ‘termination for convenience’, under charter schools’ existing contracts, by the middle of May 2018. This would take effect at the end of the school year.”

The final cost of removing the charter school model is unknown. Compensation for schools that have their contract ended would be likely to cost up to $1 million, according to the Cabinet paper.

National leader Bill English has criticised the Government legislation to close the “part- nership” schools, saying it was “shameful” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had not bothered to visit the schools to meet the children at them.

The schools were set up under National’s agreement with the Act Party to cater for children who were struggling in the mainstream system. While National was initially lukewarm about them, English was an advocate.

English said closing the schools was “nasty and vindictive behaviour” and was ideological.

“And the victims of it will be young children who could have done better in a school that suited their needs.”

He said a significant proportion of the students in the schools were Maori, and Ardern had promised Maori up north to deliver to them.

The bill would also mean anyone signing up to the feesfree tertiary education policy would have to make a declaration. It would not have to be witnessed, but anyone caught lying could be convicted and fined $5000.

This aims to deter people from taking advantage of what National has called an “honesty system”.