Anger continues to boil over in Otago secondary schools about the closure of the Phoenix Centre, with one principal raising questions about whether the independent report was just a formality.
Otago Secondary Principals Association chairman Philip Craigie said the report had "fairly unrealistic targets" which pupils were expected to achieve before coming out of the centre.
It was expected they would be able to return to school and gain NCEA qualifications, Mr Craigie said.
"If a pupil can turn up to school after being at the centre, and bring a pen and paper to class and not disrupt the learning of others, that's progress. That's success as far as we're concerned."
He said the independent report on the centre was released to schools in Dunedin in November last year and many principals felt "disquiet" about its content.
"We felt our views hadn't been listened to.
"I can't help wonder if the Government has made a decision to close the centre and then commissioned a report to back up their decision.
"I think there's some money- saving at the back of this."
Bayfield High School principal Denis Slowley was disappointed about the decision, but was trying to be pragmatic about it.
"The report showed there were clearly some things that needed to be fixed.
"But the kids are very important. The resource that is left is $142,000 and we need to start looking at our best use for that resource.
"Ultimately, the kids are still in the schools and we'll still have to deal with them."
