Under the Education Act 1989, the ministry can intervene in the management of a school when it believes there is risk to the operation of the school, or the welfare or educational performance of the pupils.
Many factors can lead to intervention, from problems with the board of trustees to fund mismanagement or pupil trouble.
Although all cases go through the same process, each is a unique operation.
Kaikorai Valley College, Waikouaiti School, Wakatipu High School, Rotary Park School, Clutha Valley School and Pembroke School had interventions imposed, ranging from bringing in a limited statutory manager, to the appointment of a specialist adviser to the board of trustees.
Wakatipu High School, Rotary Park School and Clutha Valley School had limited statutory managers appointed by the ministry under section 78M of the Education Act to advise the schools on employment issues.
A commissioner has since been appointed at Rotary Park School, in January this year, after five of the school's six board of trustees members resigned.
Kaikorai Valley College also had a limited statutory manager appointed in August 2009 to advise the school on finances, after an auditor reported problems with the school's finances.
Principal Philip Craigie said the school had gone from a financial surplus in 2008 to a significant deficit in 2009.
Thanks to excellent advice from the limited statutory manager, he said, the school had turned the "huge deficit" into a small surplus in 2010.
The 78M was revoked in August last year, and downgraded to a 78K where a specialist adviser was provided by the ministry to give continuing financial advice to the board of trustees, Mr Craigie said.
Specialist advisers were also working at Waikouaiti School and Pembroke School in 2011, after concerns were raised about their boards of trustees' organisation and management, and systems and processes respectively.
Waikouaiti School's 78K was implemented in December 2009, but was revoked in December last year.
Information provided by the Ministry of Education under the Official Information Act revealed the number of interventions in Otago schools had increased from two in 2007, to seven for the past two years.
Throughout New Zealand, the ministry made interventions at 190 schools in 2011.
Specific actions
Types of Government intervention under the Education Act 1989. -
• 78J: Ministry requests information from board of trustees.
• 78K: Specialist adviser provides advice to board.
• 78L: Ministry requires board to prepare and carry out action plan.
• 78M: Ministry appoints limited statutory manager(s) for board while it remains in existence.
• 78N (1&2): Board dissolved and commissioner appointed to replace board.
• 78N (3): Board dissolved and commissioner appointed to replace board where it is not technically able to function.
