The Iwi Education Authority will be supporting charter schools in a bid to improve the achievement of Maori students in New Zealand.
Iwi Education Authority - Te Maru o Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa - principals and school representatives met in Rotorua recently to discuss the charter schools model, also known as partnership schools.
The education authority oversees more than 20 kura-a-iwi schools in New Zealand, including schools in Rotoiti and Murupara, giving iwi more input into the education and achievement of their tamariki (children).
Authority spokesman Pem Bird said a group of supporters from the education authority would be making a submission in Wellington this week in support of partnership schools.
During the meeting in Rotorua the week before last, he said the charter schools system was a good tool for the achievement of Maori in New Zealand. "If I had the opportunity, there would be [a charter school] in place tomorrow."