By 3 News online staff
A misleading announcement by the Ministry of Education over the future of Christchurch schools has caused widespread confusion and anger.
Plans were announced this afternoon to close 13 schools across Canterbury and merge a further 18 in a major overhaul of the region’s education sector.
The plans included merging Shirley Boys' High School with Christchurch Boys' High and Avonside Girls' High School with Christchurch Girls' High School.
But in a startling about-face, the ministry later reneged on these plans, releasing a statement saying there were “no firm proposals to merge or close Christchurch high schools”.
The ministry says the information they presented earlier was “not clear and potentially misleading”.
The debacle has infuriated Shirley Boys’ principal John Laurenson who says it shows the ministry’s incompetence.
“What the ministry media people have done is cock up the statements that have been made,” he says.
“They haven't’ studied and graduated to media, quite frankly.”
Mr Laurenson says it’s impractical to merge his school with Christchurch Boys’ High.
The ministry says it is unable to make proposals on the four high schools in question because there is not enough geotechnical information.
“The ministry apologises if any information made available today was unclear regarding Christchurch high schools,” their statement says.
Earlier today Education Minster Hekia Parata, flanked by the Ministry’s Secretary for Education Lesley Longstone and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, revealed the plans.
They called it the “education renewal project” which included a $1 billion spend on the Christchurch education sector over 10 years.
“The whole education sector has experienced huge disruption following the earthquakes,’’ Mr Brownlee said.
“As we move from recovery to renewal we have an opportunity to realign services with changing community needs and ensure our investment delivers better outcomes for learners and the wider community.”
In the initial release from the ministry, Mr Brownlee said it was important the Government “[takes] the time to get this right”.
PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS TO MERGE
Shirley Boys' High School and Christchurch Boys' High School
Avonside Girls' High School and Christchurch Girls' High School
Aranui High School, Aranui Primary, Avondale Primary, Chisnallwood Intermediate and Wainoni Primary.
Lyttelton Main and Lyttelton West
Freeville Primary and North New Brighton Primary
Linwood Avenue School and Bromley Primary
Phillipstown Primary and Woolston Primary
Windsor Primary and Burwood Primary
Yaldhurst Model School and Gilberthorpe School
SCHOOLS TO RELOCATE
Linwood College
Marshland Primary
Banks Avenue Primary (or close)
SCHOOLS TO CLOSE
Banks Avenue Primary (or be relocated)
Linwood Intermediate
Branston Intermediate
Richmond Primary
Burnham Primary
Burnside Primary
Glenmoore Primary
Hammersley Park Primary
Greenpark School
Kendal School
Le Bons Bay School
Manning Intermediate
Duvachelle Primary, Akaroa.
Okains Bay, Akaroa.
3 News
source: newshub archive
