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What happens to students when school closes?
PSA MEDIA RELEASE
November 13, 2009
For Immediate Use
Staff ask what happens to students when residential
school closes
“Staff at a Waimokoia residential school in Auckland disagree with the government decision to close the school and are asking what will happen to the children,” says Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott.
Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that Waimokoia residential school in Halfmoon Bay, Auckland will be closed on January 27 next year. The school caters for children aged between 7 and 13 with severe behaviour issues.
“Staff and the PSA opposed closing Waimokoia when it was first proposed by the Minister in September and we remain opposed to the closure,” says Brenda Pilott.
“The children who attend Waimokoia are there because they can’t be catered for in mainstream schools because their behaviour makes them a risk to other children and disrupts their learning.”
“Yet the Minister is closing Waimokoia and wants these students to be returned to their local schools.”
“The Minister says closing Waimokoia school is in the best interests of the students. We strongly disagree.”
“They are among the most vulnerable children in the country and we will be holding the Minister to account if anyone is harmed as a result of this school closing.”
“The Minister is promising to provide intensive individualised support and therapy for these students in their local schools and homes.”
”We will be watching closely to see if that support is provided.”
“We believe the Minister should instead be ensuring Waimokoia has the support and resources it needs to provide decent accommodation and a quality education for these children.”
“This is what the staff at Waimokoia are asking for. They were told of the closure this morning and their prime concern was the future of the children at the school.”
“The PSA has 27 members working at Waimokoia and we will be giving them full support in the wake of the Minister’s decision to close the school,” says Brenda Pilott.
ends
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