9 November

Immediate Release

Christchurch City Council supports schools in extension to consultation period

NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the unanimous decision by Christchurch City Council yesterday to ask the Minister of Education to extend the consultation period over the plan for educational renewal in the city.

“The council has seen that education is an issue that affects the whole community and is showing it is prepared to play a leadership role,” says NZEI Te Riu Roa president Ian Leckie.

“It was always a ridiculous timeframe and schools have felt under an enormous amount of pressure, an extension will be a welcome relief to many,” said Ian Leckie.

The council agreed at a meeting today that in view of the wide and deep community concern and interest in the educational changes that it should write to the Minister requesting she extend the period of consultation beyond December 7 for those schools that desire it.

It said this would allow the wider community to have an opportunity to consider options in the context of the overall future growth and development of the city.

“The council is in the perfect position to know what is going on in Christchurch, what these schools have been through and how this is affecting the community. It is good news that the council is seeking a broader voice and saying the whole community should have a say in the plan. Consultation has been definitely lacking in the proposal for the closure and merger of schools,” said Ian Leckie.

He said it would also give time to go back and have a thorough overall look at the picture for education in Christchurch.

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