Are you a New Zealander, in New Zealand, or have ever been to school (or a charter school, or homeschooled)? You can make a submission on the Education Amendment Bill!
Charter schools do not currently exist in New Zealand because they're largely an avenue to teach children whatever you like while receiving government funding.
The bill proposes charter schools would have very limited regulation of curriculum, hours of operation, and how money is spent. Charter schools would not be subject to review by the Education Review Office that checks students are being taught properly.
Charter schools would not be required to employ trained and registered teachers, or be answerable to parents in any way unless they want to (normal schools have a board which includes parents, charter schools would have 'sponsors' which can be anyone).
For context, David Seymour (libertarian politician, sponsor of the bill, and current deputy Prime Minister) has suggested Brian Tamaki (notorious homophobe, transphobe, and general bully) be given one of the first of the 15 slots for new charter schools proposed in the bill. There would also be 35 state schools converted to charter schools, at a total cost of $153m.
I do not particularly want my taxes used on that.
If you don't either, you can make a submission below.
The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm Thursday, 25 July 2024 New Zealand time.
Public submissions are now being invited on this Bill
Here's NZEI (teacher advocacy group)'s submission advice with talking points.
Here's PPTA (largest teacher's union)'s summary of the bill.
Here's a news report laying out what different parliament spokespeople have said.
