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Kawerau Intermediate is seeking the public’s support in its stand against the Ministry of Education’s move to amalgamate the school with Kawerau College.
Kawerau Intermediate Board of Trustees chairperson Petrina Hayes says a decision by Education Minister Anne Tolley to close the school at the end of 2012 has disappointed the community.
Kawerau Intermediate have been fighting to keep their school opening since the beginning of the year.
A new dual campus is being opened on the site of Kawerau College in 2013, amalgamating both the intermediate and the college.
This proposal goes against the wishes of the community, which voted earlier in the year to keep the intermediate.
Anne Tolley says the amalgamation is due to the falling roll numbers in the schools causing funding reductions.
Despite strong support for four out of the six schools in Kawerau to remain open, retaining a three tier education structure, Anne decided to merge the primary schools and the intermediate and college.
She says the government is investing $6 million in establishing a new secondary school in Kawerau, which she believes will help boost student achievement.
“The new Year 7-13 school will provide excellent 21st century facilities for students in new and refurbished buildings on the current Kawerau College site, with separate campuses for middle and senior school students.
“The new school, and the $6 million in new funding, will be a great boost for Kawerau students, the community and the local economy.
“The larger school will have the benefit of increased funding and more subject choices for students in modern state of the art classrooms.
“It will also cater for both middle and senior school students on two distinct campuses, which we know through consultation is important to parents.”
The college and intermediate now have 28 days to respond, before a final decision is made.
The public is asked to attend a meeting at Kawerau Intermediate’s school hall from 7pm tonight to discuss the issue.
Posted on 15-11-2011 15:34 | By Jitter
Has Anne Tolley been to Kawerau and surrounding district to talk to and listen to the peoples concerns ? I don’t know. However if not she should get up there and talk to them and not base this decision on the say so of an isolated beaurocrat in Wellington. She has made a number of decisions during her term as Minister of Education in the National Government without veiwing the situation personally first. These decisions to close schools come down basically to finance alone. If she can save money in any way, she will, as she doesn’t give a stuff really about the education of the kids involved. Is Tolley and senior officers of the MOE going to attend the public meeting at Kawerau tonight to discuss the situation with locals? I doubt it very much as they have already made their decision and the 28 days allowed for response from the schools concerned is window dressing only. Let’s hope Tolley does not get elected again.