Consultant and columnist Jonathan Ayling discusses Labour's continued opposition to charter schools, despite New Zealand data showing they operate at lower cost than the state system. He notes the irony of Labour candidates Willie Jackson and Andrew Coster having personal links to successful charter schools, even as party policy would see such schools shut down if Labour forms the next government.



Ayling argues charter schools offer vital innovation and competition, allowing different approaches for students poorly served by the mainstream system, particularly Māori learners and those with diverse needs, while facing greater accountability than state schools. He suggests opposition is driven less by ideology than by teachers' unions protecting their influence and funding model, and calls for cross-party agreement based on outcomes rather than repeated policy reversals, pointing to recent PISA and PAT results as evidence the current curriculum reforms are already lifting achievement.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Consultant and columnist Jonathan Ayling discusses Labour's continued opposition to charter schools, despite New Zealand data showing they operate at lower cost than the state system. He notes the irony of Labour candidates Willie Jackson and Andrew Coster having personal links to successful charter schools, even as party policy would see such schools shut down if Labour forms the next government. Ayling argues charter schools offer vital innovation and competition, allowing different approaches for students poorly served by the mainstream system, particularly Māori learners and those with diverse needs, while facing greater accountability than state schools. He suggests opposition is driven less by ideology than by teachers' unions protecting their influence and funding model, and calls for cross-party agreement based on outcomes rather than repeated policy reversals, pointing to recent PISA and PAT results as evidence the current curriculum reforms are already lifting achievement. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments Podcast

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.