Partnership schools (kura hurua) have become a topic of intense political debate in what appears to be a case of those shouting the loudest being heard the most.

The criticisms are many and varied – and unavoidable on both radio and TV. First, it is apparently an assault on teacher quality. Second, it is a cruel experiment on poor communities. Third, it is the first step towards privatising schools. And fourth, partnership schools don’t work.

Given all these criticisms, you would think a few trials in some partnership schools would not bother the naysayers, as the schools will clearly fail given their inherent faults! Apparently not.

Oddly, both sides of the debate have experts and studies supporting their position. The fact is that charter schools in other countries have had mixed results depending on the model adopted. Overseas studies may be a useful guide, but not authoritative, given the unique nature of the proposed New Zealand model.

But certain themes are common to all charter schools: choice for parents, innovation in schools, and different schools to meet different niche needs.

The New Zealand Initiative is delighted to contribute to public understanding of partnership schools by hosting, in association with the Aotearoa Foundation and the Auckland, Canterbury and Victoria universities, Dr Mike Feinberg’s visit to New Zealand. Feinberg is the founder of the KIPP schools (Knowledge is Power Programme), which he started in 1994 in the United States; the network now boasts almost 40,000 students in 125 high performing charter schools across the country. Eighty-five per cent of KIPP students come from low-income backgrounds and 95 per cent are from Hispanic or African-American backgrounds.

Feinberg’s views are sure to provoke discussion beyond the political rhetoric that has sadly dominated this debate. He is a practitioner deeply involved in education at the lower end of the socio-economic ladder.

As with many controversial policies, a well-organised vocal minority can drown out the dispersed voice of silent majority – as has been the case in the partnership schools debate and at public meetings so far. The Initiative encourages all Insights readers to attend these lectures, listen, learn, ask questions, and become better informed about what partnership schools are and how they operate.