So the billionaire worshippers at Forbes Magazine * have got their eyes on the massive opportunities for profit promised by the privatisation of public education.

Naveen Jain’s article is so full of absurd assertions, greed- masquerading as idealism and fundamental misunderstandings that it is hard to know where to begin.

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PPTA Pasifika at Select Cmmttee on Fri - We don't appreciate your touting Maori & Pacifika underachievement as a reason for charter schools

— Teachers@ PPTA (@PPTAWeb) February 22, 2013

The people who want our children to have charter schools had a little get together in the weekend. They are called the ACT party - not polling very well - but the current government seem to quite like some of their ideas.

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The Teachers Council made their submission to the Education and Science select committee yesterday.

" Teachers Council chair Alison McAlpine said most, if not all, parents want their children taught by trained and registered teachers.

Mrs McAlpine said a substantial body of international evidence supports the importance of high-quality teachers."

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Hekia Parata New Zealand Minister of Education drew attention to her reply to Metiria Turei's (Green party co-leader) question in the house yesterday, via a tweet this morning.

I had a great opportunity to remind everyone of our Govt's focus on raising achievement - Question 3 in the House j.mp/12gKHpA

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Dear Ms Longstone,

Some of us who have been involved in educating students for many decades in NZ cannot understand the recent attack on NZ's education system.

It is obvious you have been appointed by some who feel that you can make some progress in bringing NZers to heel as this government is not prepared to spend money on education.

The comments by Education Ministry CEO Lesley Longstone that the NZ education system is not world class were not made in a vacuum.

The comments come in the wake of imposed policies on (a) national standards (b) charter schools and (c) the abortive attempt to increase class sizes – all of which run counter to the equity outcomes that Longstone now professes to be dead keen on promoting.

I think we can add the attack on struggling Christchurch schools to this list.

Unlike England, many members of this government and perhaps some of your advisers, NZers have a long history of egalitarianism.

To attack the fact that you say education is not equitable for all in NZ, when our education has unfailingly demonstrated its robustness even under the extreme attacks from governments is folly on your part. No-one believes you for a moment.

Just as in England, public school educated people feel that their education system is the best ever, so do most kiwis.

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