Huge opposition to charter schools

Education experts hope the Government will soon see how much opposition there is to the idea of charter schools.

Members of the Charter Schools Working Group spoke to around 400 people at a packed public meeting in south Auckland last night.

Meeting organiser and Auckland University Associate Professor Peter O'Connor says there's plenty of concern, worry and frustration from many.

"The issue of charter schools is not a minor issue, but it's one that is of enormous interest to the public and there's some very, very passionate views held by principals, by teachers, by Mums, Dads.

"The parents who stood up and where the most passionate, were those who said they didn't want south Auckland to be targeted or blanketed as a failing community."

Mr O'Connor  says people feel like this policy has been hastily lumped on them.

He says those at the meeting were told charter schools aren't necessarily destined for south Auckland.

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