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Regional | Charter Schools

Northland PPTA members to deny support for charter schools

The PPTA teachers' union has instructed its Northland membership to deny all interaction and support with and for Charter Schools, and it's a move executives of both Te Kura Hourua O Whangarei and Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru allege is a bullying tactic as they prepare to open their doors in the new year.

High on the agenda of discussions for the sponsors of the Whangaruru Charter School is the PPTA's ban on charter schools.

Curriculum Director of Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru, Natasha Sadler, says she feels sorry for the kids, that it means they don't want to support the Māori kids in the two charter schools.

Te Kāea understands there is a lot of support amongst PPTA membership in this region for the aspirations of the two charter schools.

However, the union's hierarchy is to meet with the Whangarei membership next week.

NZPPTA President Angela Roberts says the actual challenge is making the public system work better.

Māori in this region have been underachieving in the public school system for the past century, and these Māori charter schools aim to raise Māori educational achievement, a goal the PPTA has no qualms with.

Ms Sadler believes that despite the opposition, they will continue with their work or the system will continue to fail their children.

Despite the highs and lows, the doors of these charter schools will open in the new year.