Credit: SonovaMin
National MP Judith Collins has fired shots at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over the decision to axe charter schools.
[…] “You know what I’d really like to see this Government show a bit of leadership on? That’s protecting those poor little kids in charter schools – kids that these guys are just consigning to the scrap heap,” she says.
“Woman to woman – you know what Jacinda? You’re always talking about compassion, fluffing on about it. Tell you what – show some. Protect those kids and stand up to those union bullies.”
Host Duncan Garner agreed with her, telling Labour MP Phil Twyford he was damaging the students’ futures.
“You’re closing schools that are helping young people that have failed in state schools actually get ahead,” he says.
“These are your people. These should be your families.” […]
[…] Alwyn Poole, academic advisor for Villa Education Trust, which operates three charter schools in Auckland, says he feels blind-sided by the Government’s decision.
“The first few weeks after the election, Jacinda Ardern in the house promised an easy transition,” he told The AM Show on Friday morning.
“Hipkins has promised an easy transition for a long time, so his operation yesterday in throwing out that ‘if you don’t close, we’ll close you for you’, was a huge surprise.”
And Ms Collins says the model works for the children who need it.
“I’ve listened to Phil. He’s doing his best to defend the indefensible,” she says.
“These school kids have been in the school system for long enough that it’s failed them and they’re railed in it. They need something else.
“They’re the poor little victims of a big fat mean union and a Government that will do whatever that union wants. It’s just disgraceful.”
Click here or on the above screenshot to watch the AM Show where National MP Judith Collins defends Partnership schools and their students. Labour minister Phil Twyford repeats the lie that only a few things will need to change for the schools to remain open. He names two key things that he says will have to change, which the schools are already doing! They already use registered teachers and they already teach the New Zealand curriculum.
This is the same smokescreen blown by PM Jacinda Ardern. Twyford ignores that there is no pathway to becoming a special character school because of the flaws in the legislation; flaws that Jacinda Ardern promised would be fixed but haven’t been fixed. He denies that the schools will be closed even though Education Minister Chris Hipkins released a press release on Thursday categorically stating that he will forcibly close them if they don’t agree to close.