More redundancies at NZ’s largest school

The Correspondence School

PPTA BRANCH

Media Release

31 August 2007

More redundancies at NZ’s largest school

The Correspondence School PPTA branch is calling on the Minister of Education to launch a national inquiry into the role of The Correspondence School (TCS) – to establish its core function, provide proper funding and return to a democratically elected board of trustees.

The school is facing another round of major restructuring – its fourth in ten years – which teachers at the school believe is indicative of a serious problem affecting the School: its core function is poorly defined.

TCS continues to recover from its last restructure when, to save money, around 45 staff were sacked at a cost of $1.3 million. The indication is that around 30 positions will be disestablished when the latest announcement, expected on September 3, is made.

Its 13,000 students fall into three main groups: those enrolled in another school, those who live too far from a school and those not able to attend a mainstream school.

Derek Bunting, PPTA spokesperson at the School, said that with such a wide clientele, TCS has aimed to be all things to all students and to be effective has tailored resources and teaching to meet the diverse needs of a very wide range of students.

“TCS has proven time and time again its ability to meet successfully the learning needs of students on a scale unparalleled in New Zealand. However, in recent years, the significant increase in the numbers of high needs students has put huge pressure on the school’s dwindling staff and capital resources.”

“One of the main problems is that many of our students are highly dependent learners, not able to work alone, and they do not receive the individual attention they need. In fact, many of them appear on the roll for only a few months. It’s very hard to make a significant difference in such a short time, especially when they also require so much pastoral support.

“The forthcoming restructuring has the potential to succeed only if it is properly researched and based on evidence of what works. However, if all that happens is a reorganisation in Wellington then PPTA urges the BOT to abandon its restructuring plans now.”

“What we do know is that close teacher: student working relationships result in strong, positive outcomes for students. PPTA urges TCS to develop a model that puts students first by locating teachers in the regions to enable regular face-to-face contact. Anything less is short sighted. Our students are entitled to a high quality and personalised education.”

ENDS

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