Dr Sharples told Waatea News on Radio New Zealand that he had "grave fears" the government policy to introduce national standards would mean that parents would choose schools based on the standards they achieved.
"It will mean that some schools will be low in support from the community. They are going to lose roll numbers, teachers won't go there. All sorts of things could happen," Dr Sharples said.
Waatea News reported that Dr Sharples said he was against the introduction of the standards and had hardly been consulted on it.
Dr Sharples voted in favour of legislation introducing what is a flagship policy for National.
Last week Prime Minister John Key relieved Mrs Tolley of her tertiary education portfolio so she could concentrate on the introduction of national standards, which are facing opposition from many teachers and schools.
"National standards is of critical importance to the Government," Mr Key said last week. "It's our number one objective in the compulsory education sector to see that successfully rolled out in 2010."
The primary schools teachers union NZEI Te Riu Roa said Dr Sharples' opposition to the policy sent a strong political message to Mr Key that there was a lack of support for standards to be rolled out nationwide without a trial.
The Government argues having nationwide standards of education achievement would mean parents would have better information about their children.
Opponents say the system is untried and would lead to unfair comparisons between schools.
