Opinion: Choice in education a good thing

Chapman College Rotorua. PHOTO/FILE

More choice when it comes to schooling can't be a bad thing, can it?

We report today on an application which, if approved, could give Rotorua parents another Christian school to consider for their children.

Tauranga's Bethlehem College wants to take over Rotorua's Chapman College, and turn it into a satellite campus.

It also wants to become state-integrated - meaning it would be government funded - and increase its overall roll to allow for new students in Rotorua.

Bethlehem College Ltd chairman Alan Hood says it would bring increased choice in Christian education and would be positive for Rotorua and both communities.

But John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh is not happy. He has been trying for some time to get his roll cap raised. As the only Catholic school in the city, it's bursting at the seams and has had to turn prospective students away.

Mr Walsh says there is already enough diversity in the city's schools and if Bethlehem is successful, other Rotorua schools could lose students.

The application is before the Ministry of Education which will consider a range of factors in reaching its decision.

But if this option means parents don't have to send their children to school outside Rotorua or settle for a school that doesn't meet their ideals, surely that's a good thing.

And what's wrong with a little competition? Ultimately parents will choose the school that best suits their child - if the other Rotorua schools are good enough (which I have no doubt they are) they will continue attracting students.

Ultimately it must come down to what is best for our children and their education. We shall await the ministry's decision with interest.