Special Education Policy Could Put Vulnerable Women At Risk

14 June 2012

Media Release

Special Education Policy could put Vulnerable Young Women at Risk

“The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) supports the concerns of its Nelson branch that closing Salisbury School would put vulnerable young women at risk,” NCWNZ President Elizabeth Bang said today.

Elizabeth Bang was commenting on the Ministry of Education’s current review of Salisbury School, a Residential Special School in Nelson, which could face closure by the end of the year.

“Salisbury is the only school in New Zealand that provides specifically for teenage girls with complex intellectual needs. Closure would mean that these girls are forced back into attending mainstream schools.

“We know that mainstream schools do all they can for students with disabilities, but they are not currently equipped to deliver the comprehensive support these girls need. We’re deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the girls if the specialist support that Salisbury provides is no longer available,” Elizabeth Bang said.

The Government’s planned ‘wrap around’ service means shutting one or more of the four residential schools in New Zealand, including Salisbury, in favour a system where “students live at home to have their complex behaviour, social and education needs met by specialist services through the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan with funding to implement the plan in the students school, home and local community.”

“NCWNZ supports our Nelson branch’s view that inclusion for some students is beneficial, but not for those with very complex needs that have not been able to be catered for in mainstream schooling,” concluded Elizabeth Bang.

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