Porirua schools defend use of taxis

Concern about the Mongrel Mob, dogs and weather are factors which led Porirua schools to hire taxis to get pupils to and from lessons.

The schools said yesterday that the use of taxis had also slashed truancy rates.

About a third of the 275 pupils at Russell School, and dozens at Cannons Creek and Glenview Schools, are picked up in the morning by taxi vans, delivered to school and then taken home at the end of the day.

The taxis cost Russell School, by far the biggest user, about $29,000 last year.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said last night he opposed taxis being used to transport students from other areas - which at least two of the schools confirmed they were doing.

However, a spokeswoman said Mr Mallard believed the schools had the interests of their pupils at heart and he would not take the issue any further.

The Ministry of Education says it has no concerns as schools are allowed to spend their operations grants as they see fit.

However, another Porirua principal, Kerry Hoskin of Corinna School, described the taxis as an "immoral" use of school funds designed both to lure and to hold on to pupils - and the funding they attracted.

Cannons Creek principal Ashley Blair said the taxis could be behind his school's now having an attendance rate "well above the national average". Truancy rates had been slashed and pupils were safer now that they did not have to walk from another area.

"Parents told us they wanted their kids to go to school and not be troubled by the Mongrel Mob, by dogs, or by the weather."

National leader Bill English this week said schools could afford "to compete" for students by using taxis because of the decile financing formula which unfairly favoured schools in low-income areas.

The funding system is the subject of an inquiry by Parliament's education and science select committee.

- NZPA