News that New Zealand may enter into an agreement allowing further privatisation of the education system "goes against everything the Government has been doing to bring schools together", concerned Rotorua principals say.
A document leaked this week shows New Zealand has joined a small group of countries pushing for education to be included in a secret trade deal, the Trade in Service Agreement (TiSA).
Rotorua principals and educators across the sector have expressed concern the deal could result in further commercialisation of education and restrict future governments' rights to regulate the quality and provision of education.
Principal's Association president and Owhata School principal Bob Stiles said educators "certainly have reason to be concerned".
"It will be going against everything the Government has been working towards in terms of schools working collabor-atively to raise student achievement," Mr Stiles said.