School zoning may be partly abolished

Act New Zealand deputy leader and Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy inspects members of...
Act New Zealand deputy leader and Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy inspects members of the HMNZS Toroa at the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve headquarters in Dunedin last night, with commanding officer Lieutenant-commander Bruce Walker. Photo by Jane Dawber.
A Ministry of Education proposal to partly abolish school zoning, and allow our highest- and lowest-achieving pupils to access schools with quality education, may be implemented as early as February next year.

In Dunedin yesterday, Act New Zealand deputy leader and Associate Minister of Education Heather Roy said the proposal would allow the top 5% and the bottom 20% of school pupils to attend the school of their choice.

"The problem is, we have students in the top 5% of students who are gifted and talented who aren't being challenged in their own school.

"Because of zoning, these students often aren't able to go to another school where their needs may be catered for better.

"It's the same for the bottom 20%. These students are of more concern because they don't have the tools to undertake ordinary activities in life, like reading a bus timetable."

She said national standards would be useful to identify which pupils needed assistance and which schools would be best to provide it.

"Learning broker" mentors would also be established to help parents access different sources of education.

Mrs Roy said the system would allow some schools to grow, but might also cause some other schools to close.

"It's about having students educated to reach their potential. If quality education is not being provided, then the closure of some schools might not be a bad thing. But that would be a last resort," she said.

Mrs Roy's proposal was before Education Minister Anne Tolley and it was hoped it would be implemented next year.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment