February 12, 2018
Whakaue grump at charter school change
The sponsor of a Rotorua charter school isn't happy it's going to have to change its status in line with the policy of the new Government.
Legislation has been change to scrap the partnership school/ kura hourua model and give existing schools the chance to become special character, integrated or private schools.
Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho-Ake Trust general manager Roana Bennett says that's disappointing and surprising given the contract signed with the Ministry of Education under the previous Government to set up Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology.
The school opened its doors three weeks ago with 80 students, and expects to have 200 by the end of the year.
Ngati Whakaue has worked with the education system for decades, but mainstream schools aren't free to do what needs to be done to ensure all Masori students achieve.
"We got to the stage where we said enough is enough. We are gpoing to put up with one more generation of Maori not making it through a system that actually knows what it needs to change, but the change is coming too slowly," she says.
Ms Bennett says Te Rangihakahaka puts the learner at the centre of programme rather than the teacher.
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