70% of schools in Northland not had access to Programme

70% of schools in Northland not had access to Minister’s Programme

Whilst the Minister praises the Positive Behaviour for Learning Programme, only 30% of schools in Te Tai Tokerau have got the training!

Whangarei 17 August 2015, The Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association has just conducted a survey around Special Education and Behavioral concerns within their schools. Over 100 principals’ responded:

Pat Newman, President of Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association said that while it was great to see the minister so strongly behind this programme, (and he is very supportive of the programme), it is unacceptable that in Te Tai Tokerau, one of the areas in NZ of greatest need for such help, only about 30% of schools had been able to access the training

“While I am a great believer in the positive effects of the programme on helping schools to deal with behavioral issues,” said Mr Newman. “it should not be seen as the answer to some of the high needs children we are now encountering up here, who are putting staff and other children at risk”.

Only 30% of schools up here have been able to access this programme for a variety of reasons. Funding, accessibility and for many of our schools, the ability to obtain suitable relievers so staff can attend the training.

Mr Newman continued, “ The $129000 made available for one failing Charter School, the $350 odd million for supposedly grouping schools, the $26 million around a flag design, could have provided a lot of the funding that we and other schools in New Zealand need to cover the increasing violence and behavioral patterns from younger and younger children”.

We know as the Ministry states, that Te Tai Tokerau does get more funding per head of population, but that does not mean that it goes anywhere near to covering the massive needs in Te Tai Tokerau.

Mr Newman also stated, “To me it is a no brainer! Do we spend a few thousand extra per pupil up here now, or spend millions in ten or so more years on imprisoning them, after other innocent people have been killed or injured?”

ENDS

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