By Jane Luscombe
Teachers are warning children will take second place to profits if the Government insists on commercially-funded charter schools.
The controversial plan is part of a coalition deal between National and ACT, but voters heard very little about it before the election.
It didn't take long for ACT's one-man band to cause a stir. John Banks has taken on the education system, attacking its results and demanding changes.
"I get very, very nervous when I see our state school system failing so many of our kids," says Mr Banks.
He wants what are called 'charter schools' to train youngsters for the workforce and cut the 27 percent who are on the dole.
They've had a cautious welcome from Auckland's Waipareira Trust, which says they could be better than some of the existing schools in poor communities.
But Robin Duff, of the PPTA says charter schools overseas cherry pick the children most likely to succeed and ignore the rest.
"With no requirements imposed upon the schools they can effectively do what they like," says Mr Duff.
So what are charter schools? They get state funding, topped up by money from the business, religion or community group that runs them.
Unlike other schools, they draw up their own syllabus and class hours, and they don't have to have qualified teachers.
Mr Duff says in parts of the US more than half the teachers are unqualified and salaries are performance-related, with businesses putting profit first.
"Sadly we are concerned if it's profit-making, it's the youngsters who do not come off best," says Mr Duff.
The announcement has taken many by surprise. There was no mention of it before the election.
The closest we've got to charter schools so far is one John Banks happily cites and Prime Minister John Key's used for a previous policy launch – Bairds Mainfreight in South Auckland. The company provides funds on a case-by-case basis for things like computers and equipment.
The children's uniforms carry the logo, but it has no say in policy and the principal wants to keep it that way.
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