One-sex schools fear law changes

By REBECCA WALSH and NZPA

Single-sex state schools fear that education law changes will force them to take students of the opposite sex.

They believe that the special character of single-sex schools - among the oldest and best-known in the country - could disappear if schools have less power to refuse entry to boys or girls they do not want.

More than 100 principals have signed a letter to Education Minister Trevor Mallard seeking clarification of proposed changes to the Education Act which would remove protection for single-sex schools.

But Mr Mallard says schools would still have the right to refuse entry to students of the opposite sex despite the law change.

The topic was one of the main subjects of discussion at the secondary principals' conference in Wellington.

The principal of Wellington's male-only Rongotai College, Graeme Jarratt, said: "If this change is passed, a girl could walk up to my office and demand the right to come to this school.

"The nature of the school would be changed by an outside force."

The planned changes to the Education Act will repeal a section which protects the status of single-sex schools. Schools will then have to rely solely on an exemption in the Human Rights Act 1993 - section 58 - to stop students of the opposite sex enrolling.

Margaret Bendall, principal of Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland, said principals were yet to be convinced that the Human Rights Act would provide enough protection. That act worked against discrimination based on sex.

"Single-sex schools would be an anomaly in that context."

Mrs Bendall said girls' schools were particularly concerned about the ramifications.

Kelston Girls' High head Linda Fox said principals wanted the legislation clarified so they knew where they would stand legally.

"If they decline to have students of the opposite sex at their school, are they suddenly going to be the focus of a court case for refusing to have that student?"

Ms Fox said it was vital that parents and students had the choice of a single-sex state education.

Research showed girls did better academically in single-sex schools and many parents could not afford to send their children to private schools.

"It's all a matter of choice," Ms Fox said. "For over 10 years we have been told that parents should have the opportunity to choose where they send their children to school.

"That's not just geographically, but the type of school ... "

If schools were obliged to accept students of the opposite sex, they faced practical problems such as providing adequate facilities, Ms Fox said.

Wellington East Girls' College principal Janice Campbell said such a change could have a major impact, especially for people such as Muslim parents who wanted their daughters to attend girls-only schools.

Auckland Grammar School headmaster John Morris said repealing the section relating to single-sex schools appeared an extreme move.

His school had suggested that schools instead be given the opportunity to apply for dispensations if they needed them.

In that category could be schools in smaller areas that might not be able to offer the range of subjects a student wanted.

Mr Mallard said the law change was designed to increase the flexibility of single-sex schools to obtain funding if they wanted to admit students of the opposite sex.

This was not possible under current law. "They [schools] still have the absolute entitlement under the Human Rights Act to exclude students of the opposite gender."

The amending legislation is before the parliamentary science and education select committee.