Redcliffs School Closing Ignores Wishes of Community
Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for
Education
25 NOVEMBER 2015
Redcliffs School
Closing Ignores Wishes of Community
Once again Minister of Education Hekia Parata has ridden roughshod over the wishes of a community, this time by closing Redcliffs School in Christchurch, says New Zealand First Education Spokesperson Tracey Martin.
“The Minister seems to believe she cares for the safety of schoolchildren more than their parents and teachers, many of whom experienced the earthquakes in Christchurch.
“Or does she believe she knows best and understands reports around the likelihood of rock fall better than Redcliffs parents?
“In a survey of 115 families nearly all (96 per cent) said they would continue to send their children to the school with the safety measures in place.
“But the Minister is not going to give them the opportunity.
“She has been told that closing the school will lead to the breakdown of the community, put unnecessary pressure on families, and children will no longer be able to walk to school. The school will close anyway. Shame on the government.”
ENDS