Govt's online learning provision under fire

A proposal to create online learning centres which can be run by private providers is being described as blatant privatisation and a threat to the Correspondence School.

Hekia Parata
Hekia Parata

The proposal is in the Education (Update) Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament by Education Minister Hekia Parata.

Ms Parata said Communities of Online Learning (Cools) would be open to as wide a range of potential providers as possible "to gain the greatest benefits'' for young people.

School-age pupils would be able to enrol in an accredited online learning provider instead of attending school.

The radical change meant any registered school, tertiary provider such as a polytechnic or an approved body corporate would be able to apply to be a Cool.

Any pupil of compulsory schooling age would be able to enrol and that provider would determine whether pupils would need to physically attend for all or some of the school day.

"This innovative way of delivering education offers a digital option to engage students, grow their digital fluency, and connect them even more to 21st century opportunities,'' Ms Parata said.

"There will be a rigorous accreditation process alongside ongoing monitoring to ensure quality education is being provided,'' she said.

The Greens claimed Cools would change the way education is delivered in New Zealand.

"They will threaten the existence of the Correspondence School Te Kura,'' education spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said.

"Online charter schools that use public money for private profit don't provide the education students need.''

The Post-Primary Teachers Association said Cools were a disaster in the making.

"The Minister of Education's announcement that Cools will be created to allow corporate entities to enter the education `market' is nothing but blatant privatisation,'' PPTA president Angela Roberts said.

"What this does is open up a market for any provider to get public funding to offer online education, in competition with public schools.''

New Zealand First education spokeswoman Tracey Martin said Ms Parata wanted to start shifting pupils out of schools.

"She no doubt has private providers in mind for her new scheme,'' Ms Martin said.

"This will be a huge and tragic social experiment for our children ... we foresee students attempting to learn online in the hands of unqualified supervisors because the Government believes `anyone can teach'".

- NZN

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