Comment on Christchurch Trade School

Christchurch's Spreydon-Heathcote community board candidate Ken Horlor in reply to plans of the Ministry of Education to set up a trade academy in Christchurch is calling for a clearer vision on what kind of schooling is needed for technical training in Christchurch. He has an innovative solution which addresses several problems all at the same time and which would end up saving the government time and the ratepayers of Christchurch money.

" Plans announced by the Minister of Education, Anne Tolley, only partly address the critical shortage of skilled technical trades in Christchurch " says Horlor. " Schools such as Linwood College and CPIT are already stretched to the limit and rolls continue to grow. What Christchurch needs is a dedicated secondary school offering technical training to NCEA level and that should be located in southern Christchurch within the Spreydon-Heathcote Ward. " he adds.

" The old Sydenham school on the corner of Brougham and Colombo Streets is now an empty site after being bought by David Henderson, demolished, and then purchased by the City in the bailout. This site is right in the heart of the industrial zone and is an excellent location for a trade academy. It could perform several roles, operating as a technical academy working in with local businesses, a sports academy with Sydenham park over the road, and as an adult literacy centre in the evenings " says Horlor.

" Most significantly southern Christchurch needs another secondary school as choices are limited if you live anywhere between Cashmere and Cathedral square. " observes Horlor.

Ken Horlor is a former secondary school teacher of Commerce and is a businessman involved with civil construction equipment for 20 years.

ENDS

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