Christchurch school vows to fight closure

Email
Print

Christchurch school vows to fight closure

3News NZ

Ouruhia Model School is one of 30 quake-affected schools affected by the announcement

Ouruhia Model School is one of 30 quake-affected schools affected by the announcement

By Jessica Rowe

A small Christchurch primary school earmarked for closure is vowing to fight the Ministry of Education to stay open. 

Ouruhia Model School is one of 30 quake-affected schools that the Government has announced may close or merge, but prncipal Mark Ashmore-Smith says they plan to fight that decision.

“We want to fight it, we believe we are doing a good job here,” he says. “They told us we've got nine buildings here and nine of them are earthquake-damaged, well bring your magnifying glass to come and look at the damage, you'd be hard put to find it.”

Parents and the 100 children were told of the plan at a special assembly this morning.

Brooklands resident Emma Goodin lost her home and neighbourhood in the February quake, and says the school has been a place of normality and stability for her three children.

“I can't believe for all that, for all I’ve been through in the last two years, they would pick a moment like this just to kick me when I thought that I was as down as I could go,” she says.

Leanne Wright has two children at the school, and agrees.

“It's bloody heart-breaking, it really is,” she says, “but we'll fight it.”

Local MP Leanne Dalziel says it is another bombshell for the community.

“The schools have been the mainstay of these communities, right the way through,” she says.  “They've offered security, stability, normality in the lives of these children since the earthquakes, and here they are up in the air themselves.

But this school has still got spirit, and plans to put some hard questions to the Ministry of Education.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

16/09/2012 9:59:08 p.m.

Ian C wrote:

@aiden how is schools in these areas know they can build new classrooms when some houses in the areas dont know whats happening and havent been given the green light to build and how much is the govt going to sell its land to itself for over a billion so they aint spending any more money down here and as for any repairs to schools eqc should be paying for that not the govt and if they arent selling off the land of these so called damaged schools then they must be going to run out their charter schools which have been tried overseas and guess what they dont work so why do they think they will here and as i see it john key is running the country as a business not a country get out of your boardroom mentality and realize people have feelings changes cause feelings and our kids deserve better the people of CHCH deserve better consult before making decisions not after get the people alongside not tell them what you are doing you and your ministers seem to think that you are running a dictatorship we are all people and deserve better and they worst thing i believe this saying .......... they will listen to us yeah right thanx Tui :)

16/09/2012 12:32:16 p.m.

DIMIT wrote:

This is really Sad for CrCh. I'm lost for words. All I can say is that People of New Zealand still have You in our thoughts, We have not forgotten you! Despite the long period of cover ups of continued suffering, and the appalling use of CrCh as a Political Pr distraction tool from time to time. We know you suffer. we still have you in our Hearts. Kia kaha

16/09/2012 7:42:36 a.m.

alison wrote:

@ Direct action now I dearly hope you are right but with the current govt not listening to the people it doesnt bode well. Parents, teachers and unions have got them to backtrack on this issue just recently but they have still run roughshod over the decision and decided to impliment it in ch ch siting earthquake damage to schools as a reason to integrate, close and up class numbers. Im hearing that there are schools with little damage that are being closed for damage. If there was major damage why were the children allowed to go back in the first place and the answer is there is no major damage. These schools were checked for damage before they reopened. Its just an excuse to put into practice the govts new schooling initiatives so they can say look its working before rolling it out across the country. Disgusting to everyone that they deliberately target the most vulnerable city to do it.

15/09/2012 3:59:48 p.m.

@Alison - Direct action now! wrote:

"Legal challenges may be the only option". NO. People power is more effective. Chch needs to take to the streets and start showing its feelings. If the govt gets away with closing Chch schools, they will do the same elsewhere. If Maori can get their act together and put a spanner in the govt works, then so can the rest of us.

15/09/2012 8:42:26 a.m.

sam wrote:

Only 2 of the schools have earthquake damage out of 13 to be closed, so they cant go on about how its because of damage because most of them have no damage at all!. Its really sad to see and the last thing these kids need.

15/09/2012 6:31:27 a.m.

alison wrote:

For the govt its not about schools safety or numbers, which can be manipulated by the govt, its about getting back at the public, teachers association and unions that went against their plans for larger class numbers and charter schools. If you dont like it say it at the next election and until then best of luck to all the school community as the only hope is if you can stall until a new govt is formed. Legal challenges may be the only option

14/09/2012 11:47:16 p.m.

David wrote:

@Lee, Aiden doesnt care... he believes John Key's rhetoric. Funniest thing ever is that John Key has been proven to be a liar over and over and over again.

14/09/2012 10:42:52 p.m.

Lee wrote:

Listen here Aiden. Our school has been earmarked for closure and is one of the safest around!!! We have no damage to our school. Figure that one out?!

14/09/2012 9:45:12 p.m.

aiden wrote:

david are you not very smart? how is pumping an extra $1 billion into christchurch schools saving money? lets be honest, schools are being shut because the reports on the buildings or the ground they are on show they are unsafe. if you are like david and not very smart that means next big shakey shakey kids could die. Just Me class sizes aren't being increased. schools that will have to merge will see more classrooms built, and a pile of new schools will also be built.

14/09/2012 8:22:17 p.m.

David wrote:

Its just National using the Earthquake as an excuse to make cuts to education... even if it is just locally in Christchurch.