1. Charter Schools—Closures and Reintegration into State SystemRt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSCharter Schools—Closures and Reintegration into State System1. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) on behalf of Rt Hon BILL ENGLISH (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Acknowledging that this question is in the name of the Rt Hon Bill English can I start by acknowledging the extraordinary contribution that he has made to this House over many years and share this side of the House's best wishes for him and his family. And to answer the question: yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Why is the Government going to close charter schools or insist that they must become special character schools?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As we've long outlined yes it is our intention to put through legislation before the House that stops any future charter schools from opening. Currently we're working with existing ones to transition them to a model that sits within our current parameters and that means focusing on having registered teachers teaching within the curriculum and also under the budgets that our State schools expect as well. Hon Paula Bennett: How does she reconcile her statements that the Government will act in good faith" regarding closing charter schools when her Minister of Education said "My preferred option is to explore early termination of contracts" and that if they don't agree then he reserves his right to issue a termination notice to existing contracts by the middle of May 2018?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Minister has continually said that his ambition and hope in going into negotiations with the schools is to transition them. That's exactly what he's doing.Hon Paula Bennett: Does the Prime Minister see value in someone teaching at a school that has perhaps special Te Reo experience to give to those young people but may not have an education qualification and does she see the value in them actually being in charter schools and able to teach?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I absolutely see the value of more Te Reo in schools which is why we're focused on making sure that we have greater teacher supply in that area because at the moment we're significantly under-resourced and we need a lot of investment to make up for the deficit from the last nine years.Hon Paula Bennett: What does she say to parents of children at charter schools that say "Sadly my experience of State schools here in Aotearoa is one where the word 'inclusive' does not always apply to children with special needs and that charter schools are literally the only option for them."?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: One of the points that we have acknowledged is that what this whole process has shown us is that actually we do need to make it easier for special character schools to establish themselves. That has been a learning. So we're focused as I said on transitioning those schools but also at the same time making sure in the future where there are particular needs that we could meet through a school of special character that they're able to establish themselves a little more easily.Hon Paula Bennett: How does she reconcile keeping a school in Wairarapa open that has no children in it at all with closing schools that have over 1000 children at them for little other reason than it appeases the education union?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Our rationale has been very clear. We have a real focus on quality education and all children regardless of whether it's 1000 children or 800000 children deserve a quality education with registered teachers with our expansive curriculum with all the opportunity it provides and with the same funding that goes to State schools and the majority of children.Hon Paula Bennett: Where is the manaakitanga in closing He Puna Mārama Trust which has two highly successful kaupapa Māori kura who "have no desire to return to a mainstream model that has continued to fail a large percentage of our students"?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: To have a member stand up and make that claim does no justice to that school when the member sitting right next to me has been engaging directly with that school. We are working constructively to make sure that we get continuity for those kids not putting fear out there like the Opposition is."