Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Education

30 January 2013

Government pits schools against each other for survival

New Zealand First says a Christchurch school which has turned on other schools for its survival is the latest example of the Government’s terrible ‘Divide and Rule’ tactics.

Woolston School said in a submission to the Government that it should consider closing two other schools so it can survive and flourish.

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin says the Education Minister’s ill- conceived merger and school closure programme has instigated an ugly rivalry amongst Christchurch schools.

“It appears as if the Minister has deliberately set school against school in some sort of warped educational survival game.”

Ms Martin says National’s ‘Divide and Rule’ tactics are far from new.

“I recall watching Mr Key walk into a room full of secondary school teachers who were going to unite together with their primary school peers over the National Standards issue.

“Within moments he convinced them to turn on their primary peers by saying secondary school teachers were the ‘real’ teachers.

“Divide and rule – it is this attitude that holds our country back on so many fronts,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

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