End of the line for 30 schools

"Thirty schools across the country will be closing their doors for good as the school year comes to an end, bringing an end to decades of successful education provision," says National Party Education spokesman Bill English.

"These schools are feeling the brunt of Trevor Mallard's brutal and divisive decision making and are symptomatic of the flawed network review process.

"Many of the casualties have rolls of more than 100 pupils, all enjoy strong support from their local communities and have received excellent ERO reports," says Mr English.

"Pupils who have attended those schools in the past will be forced to attend mega-schools, formed through ad-hoc and ill-thought-out mergers.

"The staff to pupil-ratio will increase, parental choice will be reduced and the often century-long roots that these schools have had in their communities will be severed," Mr English says.

"Many of the surviving schools are struggling with a badly organised transition that has disrupted pupils and is frustrating boards and principals.

"Some of the problems being encountered by schools include;

* The unexpected need for a new sewage system to provide for increased numbers, which the Ministry of Education refuses to pay for. * Schools preparing to start the new school year using halls and libraries as classrooms * A lack of release time for Principals to run their own school while trying to set up a new school. * Promised transitional funding simply not being enough to do the job.

"Parents, boards and communities with schools under review must send Trevor Mallard a clear message by continuing the fight to save them," says Mr English.

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