Too soon to close the schools?

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Too soon to close the schools?

3News NZ

Schools are being closed in Christchurch despite a growing population

Schools are being closed in Christchurch despite a growing population

Statistics New Zealand expect Christchurch’s population to grow by 50,000 people in the next two decades. It may well be more than that - as noone knows how many workers moving in for the rebuild will stay and call the city home.

But in the meantime the demographics are continually shifting as land is red-zoned and families relocate.

Subdivisions are being fast-tracked to cope with growth projections.

So why is the Ministry of Education closing schools in these areas, and is it too soon to be making these decisions when the city's population is still in such a state of flux?

Watch the video to see Natasha Utting’s investigation.

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Comments

18/02/2013 4:39:16 p.m.

mary wrote:

John Campbell will be really excited now, being able to carry the Christchurch thing on even longer. He feeds on this and gets everyone riled up, yet again. Boring Boring. Come on Christchurch look at the glass half full instead of half empty. Change can be good.

31/10/2012 10:04:52 p.m.

Sarah Miles wrote:

Has anyone heard of disaster capitalism- its working a treat in Christchurch. See http://thechristchurchfiasco.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/charter-schools-and-beyond-2/ ; http://thechristchurchfiasco.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/teachers-get-warning-about-disaster-capitalism/

25/10/2012 7:43:23 p.m.

Kez wrote:

Hi there, can someone please tell me the last name of the guy Matt that was trying to get official information for Ouruia School. I would like to ring him even though I don't have a child at the schools being closed, I would like to stand behind him and fight for our Official Information act that I feel is being sodomised here.

25/10/2012 2:45:53 p.m.

alison wrote:

@ Linda, I too am concerned for the special school closure that puts children with special needs into mainstream. Its not going to work unless each child has a teacher assigned to them and this govt is not going to fund that. I fail to see how it can be stopped unless legal action is mounted and because it is only a smaller percentage of children is probably not an issue to this govt. Parents have an expectation that their children are safe and taught to the best of their ability. Unfortunately this govt does not. I thought there was a law somewhere that said the same but once again you would need to speak to a lawyer. It really smacks of a human rights abuse to me.

25/10/2012 9:28:34 a.m.

mary wrote:

@ERM : Sure, but view the video again. There are yet so many unknown matters in flux such as the projected increase in suburbs and hence population. The ministry's data is demonstrably so widely off the market. The minister doesn't seem to have a sensible trustworthy clue other than parroting spins. Waiting for one or preferably two more years for things to settle before making costly and foolish decisions in haste now is a much more sensible choice.

25/10/2012 7:37:12 a.m.

linda wrote:

there has been alot of talk on your show about school that are closing in christchurch but thye are not the only schools closing noone as talked about the other school that she is closing like the residential schools for children who have learning problems they need a far go putting them but in the mainstream will not help them they will fall through the system yet the get not a mention only whats happening in christchurch

25/10/2012 2:03:17 a.m.

Erm... wrote:

They HAVE waited a year, Mary.

24/10/2012 11:46:41 p.m.

Mary wrote:

Yes, it IS too early and hasty. The government, Key, English and Parota have not much clue or foresight. They should wait for a year or two to make sensible fair decisions along with the views of the local people. Closing schools now is like burying half alive suffering people live.