2 June 2005

Correspondence School Board and CEO must go

The Correspondence School's Board and CEO have lost the confidence of their staff and should be shown the door, the Green Party says.

"We strongly support the no-confidence motion against both the Board and CEO Debbie Francis passed today by TCS staff," Green Education Spokesperson Metiria Turei said. "It's high time the Minister faced the fact that they've failed and need to be replaced by a representative board.

"The ministerially appointed board has made decisions which could lead to the demise of the Correspondence School. The slashing of regional staff, who support rural children with no other educational options, was an ignorant decision that highlights the continual erosion of rural education.

"Following last year's school closures, the Correspondence School staff cuts threaten the viability of rural schooling in New Zealand.

"Last year, Education Minister Trevor Mallard sacked the representative board and put his own people in there instead. This decision has had disastrous consequences for the School. The Minister needs to front up about his mistake and set about immediately remedying it," said Mrs Turei.

ENDS

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