David Seymour is defending his signature charter schools policy, after just six state schools expressed interest in converting to charter schools in the latest round of applications.
Last year, the Government allowed funding for up to 35 of the country’s 2500 state schools to make the change by 2026.
It also allowed funding for up to 15 brand new charter schools to open.
However, just a fraction of that number now look set to be open for term one.
The deadline for state schools to express interest in converting for term one in 2026 initially passed two weeks ago.
More than 24 hours later, the charter school agency announced on Facebook the deadline would be extended, and it refused to tell 1News how many schools had applied.
But now, with two existing applications already in the works, it means no more than eight charter school conversions will be completed for term one 2026.
The charter schools agency has spent most of its $10 million in establishment funding with seven brand new charter schools operating, serving just over 200 students.
But critics of the policy say millions put aside for charter school conversions – much of which now won’t be spent – could have been allocated to the state education system.
People ‘testing the water’ – Seymour
Seymour, who is the Associate Education Minister, told Q+A people are “testing the water”.
“It’s an unfamiliar concept and there’s a lot of opposition from the union leadership.
“I think what is important is that you’ve got a whole lot of children who are getting a totally different education experience.
“You’ve got educators who are able to do things differently. And the numbers are growing. I think all that is positive.”
The next new charter school will open in July.