Post Primary Teachers' Association Western Bay of Plenty regional chair Jason Smythe says government policy to introduce charter schools is irrational.

The policy was aired during post-election talks between Prime Minister John Key and Act leader John Banks, with trials to go ahead in Christchurch and South Auckland.

Jason Smythe.

Charter schools are publicly funded, but are not subject to all the rules and regulations of traditional public schools.

'While it doesn't directly affect our region yet,” says Jason, 'it's a major concern that educational policy can be set over a cup of tea and a stroke of the pen.

'These reforms are based on models from countries that are educationally and economically performing worse than us – where is the rational thought behind that?

'In tough economic times, how can it be a good idea to establish new schools, new structures and divert public finances from established public schools that are currently running, as best as they can on the smell of an oily rag.”

Jason says parents should have the right to send their children to their local school and expect a quality, well-resourced public education.

Charter schools will receive the same per-child funding from the government as state schools, but have freedom from some Ministry of Education rules and regulations.

Charter schools will be free to set their own curriculum and qualifications, teacher pay-rates, school-day length and school terms.

It also means they are accountable for certain achievement outcomes and standards, which are written by the school's charter or mission.