New Charter School ‘Sisters United Academy’ to Empower Pasifika Girls
Sisters United Academy will focus on educating Pasifika girls to become confident, successful, and culturally grounded women.
- Country:
- New Zealand
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced the establishment of Sisters United Academy, a new charter school designed to empower Pasifika girls through culturally grounded education, modern learning methods, and strong community engagement. The school is set to open its doors in Term 1, 2026, joining New Zealand’s growing network of publicly funded but independently operated charter schools.
The new school, Seymour said, reflects the core purpose of the charter school model: to deliver innovative, community-driven education tailored to students’ unique needs while maintaining accountability for academic results.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in ways which are specific to their needs. All of the schools announced today demonstrate the innovation enabled by the charter school model,” Seymour stated.
Empowering Pasifika Girls Through Culture and Innovation
Sisters United Academy will focus on educating Pasifika girls to become confident, successful, and culturally grounded women. Students will engage daily with traditional Pasifika activities, language learning, and community involvement, helping them strengthen their cultural identity while pursuing academic excellence.
The academy’s curriculum will be personalized, blending academic rigor with cultural relevance and real-world experience. Students in Years 12 and 13 will have access to flexible learning pathways, including combinations of classroom instruction, internships, tertiary education, overseas exchanges, and hands-on work experience.
“Students will be taught a personalised curriculum, tailored to their career aspirations and cultural needs,” Seymour said. “For example, students in years 12 and 13 will be offered flexible combinations of classroom learning, internships, tertiary study, overseas opportunities, or work experience.”
Harnessing AI and Technology to Support Learning
In a move reflecting the government’s focus on modernising education, the new charter school will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its teaching model. AI tools will personalise the learning experience, allowing students to progress at their own pace, identify learning gaps, and receive instant feedback.
Teachers will continue to play a central role in guiding and monitoring students, using AI data to support tailored instruction.
“AI learning tools will further personalise learning experiences for students,” Seymour explained. “They will help students learn at their own pace, identify gaps in their knowledge early, and produce instant feedback for students.”
This hybrid approach aims to combine technology with human connection, ensuring that innovation enhances—not replaces—the teacher-student relationship.
The Charter School Model: Flexibility with Accountability
Seymour reiterated his belief that “one size does not fit all” in education and that charter schools offer a practical alternative for communities seeking to design education systems that better serve their young people.
“Charter schools show education can be different if we let communities bring their ideas to the table,” he said.
Under the charter model, schools receive the same level of government funding as state schools but enjoy greater flexibility in curriculum design, staffing, and management. In return, they are subject to strict performance standards and outcome-based accountability.
“The charter school equation is: the same funding as state schools, plus greater flexibility plus stricter accountability for results, equals student success,” Seymour explained.
He added that communities often hold innovative ideas for education that differ from centralised government models, and charter schools allow those ideas to flourish under measurable outcomes.
Growing the Charter School Network
Sisters United Academy joins four other new charter schools announced earlier this month, all set to open in early 2026. This brings the total number of charter schools in New Zealand to 16, with more expected by the end of the year, including the first state schools converting to the charter model.
Seymour praised the Charter School Agency and Authorisation Board for their rigorous work reviewing 52 applications this year.
“I want to thank the Charter School Agency and Authorisation Board for the work they have done getting charters open. This year they tell me the choices were very difficult,” he said.
He noted that the strong interest from applicants demonstrates widespread community enthusiasm for the charter approach and its potential to reshape the education landscape in New Zealand.
“This is just the beginning,” Seymour added. “I hope to see many more new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools.”
Community-Driven Education for a Diverse Future
The launch of Sisters United Academy represents a symbolic milestone in New Zealand’s education system—a school that celebrates Pasifika heritage, promotes female empowerment, and embraces technological innovation.
Supporters believe the academy will help close achievement gaps, strengthen cultural pride, and equip young women with skills for the global workforce, while critics continue to debate the balance between educational autonomy and state oversight.
Still, Seymour’s vision remains clear: education reform driven by communities, not bureaucracy.
“There are more ideas in the communities of New Zealand than there are in the Government,” he said. “That’s why we open ideas to the wider community, then apply strict performance standards to the best ones.”
As Sisters United Academy prepares to open in 2026, it stands as a symbol of educational innovation, cultural empowerment, and community partnership—an experiment in redefining what learning can mean for future generations of Pasifika girls.
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