7. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports has he received on public-private partnerships in education?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
I have seen a report from National’s infrastructure spokesperson, Maurice Williamson, which was later confirmed by National’s education spokesperson, Anne Tolley, that the party would, effectively, privatise school property by contracting out the building and maintenance of schools. This report, of course, comes hot on the heels of National’s other pledge—also blurted out on the Agenda programme by John Key—to double the funding for private schools. Clearly, National does not support a State-funded, quality public education system for all New Zealanders.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
What models for public-private partnerships has the Minister seen being promoted?
I have seen reports of Mrs Tolley promoting public-private partnership projects in Australia. Overseas experience of public-private partnerships shows they can have a very negative impact on public education. Experience in the US, Canada, and the UK has shown that schools built by public-private partnerships cost more than State schools in the life of the project. Indeed, only a few companies ever bid for them, so competition is cut down. Schools have faced huge hikes in management fees, community groups can no longer use public school buildings, and parliamentary oversight is severely diminished under a cloak of commercial sensitivity. After 11 years of public-private partnership education policies being championed by the Howard Government in Australia, almost half of Australian students attend totally private schools. Coupled with Mr Key’s pledge to double funding for private schools, this disastrous public-private partnership model may be the sort of public education system that National wants for New Zealand, but Labour will continue to directly resource schools in a very significant—
Madam SPEAKER
Anne TolleyCan the Minister confirm that the Government does not own the buildings of over 2,500 early childhood centres, over 300 State-integrated schools, over 100 private schools, or, for that matter, even the Ministry of Education building here in Wellington; if so, why on earth is he showing all this faux outrage about the use of the private sector in school property building and maintenance?
Why does that member never listen to an answer! I have just laid out the perils and pitfalls of public-private partnerships in public schools. In Australia, in Canada, in the UK, and in the USA, these policies have been a disaster. That member would like to semi-privatise our public schools; Labour is totally opposed to that.
Dail JonesCan the Minister confirm that a public-private partnership in education can include the sale of existing State-owned schools on the basis of their being leased back to the school trustees for a market rental—a policy that could, for example, easily fund the National Party’s tax cuts?