Plea for support in time of need

LEGACY OF LEARNING: Turakina Maori Girls' College chairwoman Trish Biddle-Amoroa is calling on iwi and community support for the school.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 130815WCSMCOLLEGE1

A former Turakina Maori Girls' College teacher said the growth of kura kaupapa schools may have had an impact on the falling roll at the college and other Maori boarding schools.

Retired Wanganui teacher Martin Ellis who taught history and geography at Turakina Girls for 15 years said the te reo Maori language education and tikanga values were attractive to parents.

"Now they can find those opportunities at schools that are closer to where they live, which is good, but it's a shame if it has a negative impact for the college - you can't run a school with just 54 students."

Mr Ellis said the school was in good heart when he retired in 2008, and the roll fluctuated from around 160 down to 90 students during his 15 years there.

"They were the most enjoyable years of my teaching career, and students came from places like the Hokianga and even the Chatham Islands.

"It was like family and the girls formed strong bonds with each other and their teachers. I formed friendships and still keep in touch with some of my former students."

The former teacher said he hopes that the Presbyterian church, which started the school and owns the grounds and buildings, will assist the school in its time of need.

The school board of trustees chairwoman, Trish Biddle-Amoroa, said the board and school proprietors would meet today to discuss the announcement by Education Minister Hekia Parata that the ministry would begin a consultation process to decide the school's future.

"We believe that all New Zealanders appreciate the need to preserve and protect legacies of learning as are found in the select few educational institutions that have been the pioneers of schooling over the last century.

"We are calling on our 'old girls', Nga Wahine Tawhito o Turakina, to step up to the rally for support."

Labour's Te Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe said he believes the minister's move in announcing the threat of closure and allowing a time frame of just four weeks was an unfair process.

"There are charter schools with smaller rolls that have been given more opportunities and lenient time frames," he said.

Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson also expressed concern about the time frame and lack of warning to the school.

"They were given notice at 1pm on Tuesday," he said, "and told a press release was going out that afternoon, which was disappointing.

"That's not fair on the school, the parents, teachers and pupils.

"This is a school with a rich history - very much part of Marton and the Rangitikei and, of course, they are an employer. So on a number of levels it's upsetting," Mr Watson said.

He had taken a personal interest in the school over the past 18 months and said while the closure had been a possibility he thought things had turned around.