A Dunedin school principal has called for government action to rescue primary education in Dunedin in the wake of declining school rolls.
More than half of Dunedin's primary and intermediate schools this year posted their lowest or second-lowest March 1 roll returns in a decade.
College St School principal Gary Tenbeth believes amalgamations are inevitable.
The lower a school roll fell, the more difficult it was to deliver a programme that met a variety of learning needs, he said.
‘‘The implication is we can't carry on in the current declining state without some restructuring being explored,'' Mr Tenbeth said.
‘‘Schools have to explore amalgamation, as Brighton and Ocean View Schools have done.
‘‘The Government should take a responsible attitude and make appropriate decisions for schools in Dunedin. Communities won't close schools by their own volition. It causes a lot of hurt and division.''
Overall, the number of Dunedin primary and intermediate school pupils at March 1 has dropped from 7699 in 1998 to 6548 this year - a 15% fall.
Statistics New Zealand estimated there were 20,310 children under 14 in Dunedin in 2006.
That figure was expected to drop by 760 by 2011, and by 1580 by 2031.
However, Caversham School principal Mike Darracott said a growing body of evidence showed smaller schools were the answer to some of New Zealand's ‘‘societal ills''.
Small schools had less crime and violence, fewer discipline problems, lower rates of pupil tardiness and less absenteeism.
‘‘Certainly, smaller schools foster a family atmosphere and closer links with parents and the community,'' he said.
Ministry of Education Otago and Southland regional manager Kathryn Palmer said the ministry had met Dunedin principals recently to discuss issues affecting local schools.
Schools were assured the ministry would continue to encourage communities to consider the direction of schooling in their area through a process of community-initiated education planning.
‘‘The ministry will assist in the process; future changes to education within any community will be made in response to community concerns and aspirations.
‘‘This does not preclude any individual school from applying for voluntary closure or merger with another school,'' she said.
