Some parents have asked me to explain here why I believe the current political agenda in education is not only scary, but also dishonest. They have also asked me to explain the question in this post's title.
1. On the surface, current policies seem to be about raising achievement. They are not. They are about privatising schools so that our government can limit their obligations to tax payers, both financially and educationally. Private businesses are targeted to pick up the slack. Why is that such a bad thing? Because, once a school is about making money, it is no longer about learning or students or community. Expensive (ie high quality) teachers are a liability. Expensive resources like music studios or science labs or open green fields become superfluous. Only wealthier students will be able to afford to attend a school with such facilities. This is inequitable.
2. On the surface, current policies seem to be about the government investing in education. They are not. Your taxes will be used to establish charter or partnership schools so that businesses run by political cronies can make money. That's your tax dollars funding opportunities for private profit at the expense of poorer communities. Meanwhile, more and more of your taxes are channeled to top class private schools for the wealthy. These will be the first tier schools of the future. This is inequitable.
3. On the surface, current policies seem to be about helping poorer children from low decile communities get a better deal. They are not. Once control of schools is passed to private companies, they can and will make their own rules about fees and selection. Those that can afford higher performing partnership schools will attend them. These will be the second tier schools of the future. However, the majority will end up in the third tier schools - poor performing*, for profit schools, stripped of assets and quality resources. This is inequitable.
Currently, such schools already exist in the UK. They are 'selling' school places to those that can afford them. These schools are no longer the heart of the community. Indeed, local children's families can not always afford to attend them.
I understand 'user-pays' economics. However, education and health should be the exceptions that prove the rule.
The right to access high quality primary school education should be fair and equitable for all NZ children. (Access to university is a different matter!)
Hence the statement on our school Facebook page - either you believe in a system of high quality public education for all children, or you dont. Ask yourselves. Ask your MP.
*poor performing schools should not be interpreted as schools with poor National Standards achievement data.
