Katherine Rich MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

2 March 2007

Ministry must protect vacant schools

The Ministry of Education must take steps to better manage schools that have been closed and left vacant as a result of education reviews, says National Party Education spokeswoman Katherine Rich.

Media reports show four vacant Taranaki schools have been vandalised this week, causing $300,000 worth of damage in one school.

“The trashing of closed schools happens with alarming regularity.

“What is happening in Taranaki is a tragic repeat of what happened to seven Dunedin schools closed under the Government’s Schools Review.

“It’s bad enough that local people feel wounded by school closures, but seeing what was the hub of their communities deteriorate because of vandalism is salt to those wounds.

“Taieri locals were devastated to see once proud schools like Melville Park and Reid Park reduced to eyesores.

“There has to be a better way for the Ministry of Education to manage vacated schools and speed up the sale process to preserve the value of these properties.

“The major delay between closing a school and changing ownership means that the value of the property can reduce dramatically to the detriment of the Crown.

“I am surprised that the Ministry dismisses the idea of security for these schools on the basis of cost - this might be the only solution to protecting the value of the properties.”

ENDS

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