Editorial: Schooling not about profit

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

I WAS somewhat perturbed to read this week that some of New Zealand's charter schools are paying their owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in governance fees.

The taxpayer has pumped $14 million into the controversial charter school concept, with nine such schools up and running.

Figures released this week show that administration and management at these privately-run schools form a large part of their costs - up to 40 per cent of total salaries, while state schools estimate admin makes up, at most, 25 per cent of the wage bill.

Four of the five charter schools which started last year made "related party" payments to the trust or company which owns them - though there is nothing yet to suggest that Serco is actually behind these operations.

It makes one wonder whether this is the best use of our education budget. When teaching our children becomes about making a profit, someone hasn't got their ABCs right.

I was struck by the amount of money going to these schools, some of which only have about as many students as Turakina Maori Girls College - and how welcome some of that cash would be at the 110-year-old Marton school.

Yet while there is government money available for more charter schools, the education minister is indicating closure for Turakina.

One of the prime aims in the setting up of charter schools was to lift educational achievement among Maori. Turakina Maori Girls College has a proven track record in doing just that.