Class size backdown - back down on residential schools

PSA MEDIA RELEASE

8th June 2012 - For Immediate Use

Class size backdown should be followed by backdown on residential school closures

The Public Service Association says the government should follow its backdown on class size with a backdown on the planned closure of residential schools.

The Ministry of Education is proposing to close down four residential schools for intellectually disabled children and those with serious behavioural difficulties. It wants to reallocate the money into a new service which would see children based back in their local communities and attending mainstream schools.

The plan would see Westbridge School in west Auckland, Salisbury School in Nelson, and both Halswell and McKenzie Schools in Christchurch closed by the end of the year. There are a total of 116 beds at the schools and up to 230 staff.

“Like the misguided class size policy, this policy has also been formulated with little consideration for the impact it will have on children, families and schools. The Ministry must not rush it through without listening to the widespread concern that is being expressed by school staff, families and communities,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“These are very high needs children who require specialist care and education. Mainstream schools are struggling to find the resources and many families are not equipped to have their children back in their homes. The knock-on effects could be very serious.”

The Ministry of Education is currently receiving submissions on the proposal and says it will make an indicative decision sometime in August.

The PSA is making a submission based on its firm belief that there is public value in having residential special schools providing residential education for students with complex behavioural and learning disabilities which cannot be met in their local home and school environments.

Brenda Pilott says ‘we would urge the Ministry and the Minister to look carefully at all the options and not treat the closures as a done deal.”

“If the government can back down on class size because of public anxiety, it can also recognise and front up to the anxiety these planned closures are having on vulnerable children and families, and act accordingly.”

ENDS

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