School Closures Cynical Penny-pinching
Education Minister Trevor Mallard's arrogant and cynical penny-pinching has taken a turn for the worse highlighted by
his announcement last night that six Northland schools are to be closed, ACT New Zealand Education Spokesman Deborah
Coddington said today.
"Parents, students and teachers will be devastated. Through Labour's cruel network reviews, Mr Mallard is ripping the
heart out of Northland communities - which have had strongly-supported well-performing schools," Miss Coddington said.
"The Minister claims that network reviews are upsetting for him - but his crocodile tears won't wash with Northlanders.
The grim reality is that teachers will be forced to reapply for their jobs, children's education will be disrupted, and
schools will lose some community support.
"Mr Mallard constantly shows scant regard for the wishes of rural communities, who have begged for a stay of execution
- despite claiming in Opposition that only Labour was `watching out for the interests of small rural communities and the
needs of small rural schools'.
"It now appears that excellent ERO reports, strong community support and growing rolls matter little to this arrogant
Minister, whose prime motivation is to save money - regardless of the best interests of rural communities.
"Labour's savage approach to closing schools shows that it's out of touch with provincial New Zealand. ACT accepts
schools will, from time-to-time, close or merge. But that decision must be made by the communities affected - not by a
know-it-all government that prefers bullying heartland New Zealand, rather than consulting it," Miss Coddington said.