AhlulBayt News Agency: Auckland’s Al-Madinah School is one of only two state or state-integrated schools applying to become charter schools in 2025. The school believes charter status will allow it to expand and open new campuses in Auckland’s North Shore and Christchurch.
Al-Madinah also stated that becoming a charter school would give it greater flexibility in curriculum design and school hours, enabling adjustments for events like Ramadan.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour had previously suggested that some state-sector schools might seek conversion. The first seven charter schools launched this year were all new institutions serving specific student communities.
Former charter schools that were converted into state-integrated or special-character schools after the 2017 government change are seen as the most likely to revert. State-integrated schools, often religious and with third-party property ownership, are also logical candidates.
Converting a standard state school would be a significant achievement for the program. RNZ reported that at least one such school is considering applying.
Principal Asin Ali of Al-Madinah told RNZ that charter status would ease expansion. The school currently has a waitlist of 1,500 students but is capped at 550 by the Ministry of Education.
Ali explained that as a charter school, the Māngere campus could enroll up to 700 students, based on Auckland Council regulations. The school’s sponsor also plans to open a new campus in Blockhouse Bay and another in Christchurch.
Under charter rules, a single principal and sponsor could oversee multiple campuses, unlike the current requirement for separate principals. Ali noted that while integrated status supported religious education, it limited enrollment growth unless major property investments were made.
He added that charter schools are not subject to strict enrollment caps, allowing them to expand in line with council permissions.
Al-Madinah was founded in 1992 and became state-integrated in 1996. Ministry data shows it had 592 students last year.
The Charter School Agency reported receiving six expressions of interest and two formal applications by the recent deadline. Last year, four schools applied to convert.
The agency said expressions of interest can be submitted anytime, but schools aiming to convert in 2025 had to meet a 16 June deadline, with final applications due by 8 October.
Seymour told the Education and Workforce Committee that several state schools are working on conversion, though their identities remain undisclosed. He expressed confidence in the process, citing strong community and staff support.
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