The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, and the Associate Minister of Education, John Banks, announced there will be some charter schools. These will be called Partnership Schools or Kura Hourua. The first school could begin in 2014.
The reason for a different kind of school is the large number of students who do not succeed at present in our schools. About 20% of sixteen-year olds leave school without qualifications. John Banks believes that Kura Hourua schools can help these young people.
A Kura Hourua school will be a state school and free for students. The school could be run by a religious group, a Maori or Pakeha group, a university or a private company. The school can employ some teachers who are not registered. The principal could be a business person not a teacher. The school will decide on the pay for each teacher, the length of the school day and term, and the curriculum. However, the curriculum must have an academic focus and include National Standards for primary school students and NCEA for high school students. The curriculum must also provide vocational pathways for future jobs.
Principals and other teacher groups are worried about using teachers who are not registered.
Vocabulary
academic – reading, writing, maths, science are the usual academic studies
vocational pathways – subjects which help students to find a career
Question
Do you think Kura Hourua schools can help students who do not do well at school?