You’d think Seymour would’ve learned from the last charter school fiasco, but apparently, ideology trumps evidence when there’s a chance to privatise education.
Let’s rewind to the 2014-2018 charter school experiment, a brainchild of ACT’s deal with National. Back then, these “partnership schools” were sold as a silver bullet for underachieving kids. The reality? A mixed bag at best. Some schools showed promise, but others were plagued by poor financial reporting, dodgy governance, and questionable outcomes.
The Labour-led government correctly axed the ACT Party's stupid charter schools in 2018, citing insufficient evidence of success and a clear risk of siphoning public funds into private hands. Sound familiar? It should, because Seymour’s 2025 reboot is shaping up to be the same rort as before, only pricier.
Yesterday, Stuff reported:
Charter schools: David Seymour defends $10 million for 215 students
However Seymour, who is the associate education minister in charge of charter schools, said Poole was spreading “misleading figures”. He suggested the higher costs were expected and related to establishing new schools, and added per student cost would be in line with public schools over the course of the charter school’s contract.
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But Poole retorted that the figures could not be misleading since they were a direct response to an official information act request.
However Seymour, who is the associate education minister in charge of charter schools, said Poole was spreading “misleading figures”. He suggested the higher costs were expected and related to establishing new schools, and added per student cost would be in line with public schools over the course of the charter school’s contract.
…
But Poole retorted that the figures could not be misleading since they were a direct response to an official information act request.
I wonder who's telling the truth?
Cabinet papers from 2024 also warned that charter schools would deliver “marginal benefits” while jacking up government costs. The Ministry of Education noted that new charter schools, often small, get higher per-student funding than state schools...hardly the cost-neutral reform that was promised.
Worse, the evidence in favour of Seymour's pet-project is shaky. International studies, like the UK’s free schools, show charter models can exclude vulnerable students to game performance metrics. In New Zealand, the 2014 pilot attracted priority learners but consistently failed to lift their academic achievement. So why is Chris Luxon allowing Seymour to double down on an education model that has already failed?
Seymour’s $153 million gamble, spread over four years to create 15 new schools and convert 35 state ones, reeks of privatisation by stealth. He’s waving the flag of “choice” and “flexibility,” but who benefits? Not kids in struggling state schools, who lose resources to this ideological vanity project. Not teachers, who face individual contracts that undermine collective bargaining agreements.
Seymour’s $153 million gamble, spread over four years to create 15 new schools and convert 35 state ones, reeks of privatisation by stealth. He’s waving the flag of “choice” and “flexibility,” but who benefits? Not kids in struggling state schools, who lose resources to this ideological vanity project. Not teachers, who face individual contracts that undermine collective bargaining agreements.
The real winners here are private sponsors, some for-profit, eyeing public funds with minimal accountability. Alwyn Poole, an education consultant and former charter school advocate, called the application process a mess, suggesting the system’s rigged against quality. And he’s spot on.
Parents aren’t buying what Seymour is selling either. Only 215 have enrolled their kids, a damning vote of no confidence. Meanwhile, state schools beg for teacher aides and smaller classes…resources Seymour’s happy to lavish on his charter school buddies. This isn’t innovation; it’s a recycled failure, dressed up as reform. Kiwis deserve better than watching their public education system being underfunded just to prop up Seymour’s ego. Time to pull the plug before this rort costs us more than just money.
Parents aren’t buying what Seymour is selling either. Only 215 have enrolled their kids, a damning vote of no confidence. Meanwhile, state schools beg for teacher aides and smaller classes…resources Seymour’s happy to lavish on his charter school buddies. This isn’t innovation; it’s a recycled failure, dressed up as reform. Kiwis deserve better than watching their public education system being underfunded just to prop up Seymour’s ego. Time to pull the plug before this rort costs us more than just money.
