Community Losing control of School?

Media Release September 16th 2011 – for immediate release
Attention: Education and Political Reporters

Community Losing control of School?

The small two-teacher Northland school of Aranga has today been told that it can expect to be placed under Limited Statutory Management because the Board of Trustees has included a disclaimer in its charter, expressing that it includes reference to the National Standards, under duress. The board had initially excluded reference to the National Standards because they believed they would be more harmful to their students than helpful.

The disclaimer in the charter stated ‘This is being done under a directive from the Ministry of Education and not because we believe that it is sound educational practice.’ The Principal, Myles Ferris believes that the parents and wider community have a right to know the truth about the pressure used on the school to make their charter compliant.

‘This latest action is yet another example of the present government’s bullying and stand-over tactics in relation to charters and the National Standards,’ said Peter Simpson, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation.

‘I say, Communities Beware!’ said Simpson. ‘We are talking about a small high performing school having its local control wrenched away. It is another example in a long list of this government’s determination to undermine local control. We have seen it in Canterbury with the sacking of the Environment Canterbury Board, we have seen it in Auckland with the government taking over the running of the Rugby World Cup activities and now we see it in Northland where the government is picking on a tiny two teacher school that dared to stand up for its children and community.’

‘This action shows a first step towards this government’s plans to take control away from Boards of Trustees and their communities,’ said Simpson. ‘This is a very real threat to the concept of self-management of schools that has served New Zealand well for the last two decades and delivered one of the top education systems in the world,’ he said.

ENDS

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