Labour leader Chris Hipkins says charter schools are the wrong way to address outlying students.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced 15 new charter schools will be set up in the next four years, and 35 state schools will be converted in the next two.

Hipkins, who shut down charter schools in 2018, says charter schools don't work and have worse outcomes.

"If people are concerned about kids who aren't achieving in mainstream schooling, the area to look is alternative education and activity centres."

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