Parents angry at school closure plan

by Carly Udy | 10th March 2010

The Western Bay of Plenty's only special needs school could be closed and the children sent to regular schools with special units, in an option given under a review of special education.

Parents who have children at Kaka Street Special School in Tauranga are horrified by the Education Ministry proposal, with one saying she would protest alone in the street if she had to.

Kaka Street Special School principal Barie Wickens said the proposal was "emotive and passionate" and if the school was closed it would take away parental choice.

Many parents had been through the mainstream system with their special needs children, and felt it had failed them, he said.

"The alternative is special education and we [Kaka Street Special School] have been here since 1965. It's not as though we're a new baby on the block."

To close all 39 special schools in New Zealand, and three residential schools, would be an "unprecedented move by the ministry. The scale of it would be horrendous," he said.

Mr Wickens said taking away parental choice was the Government discriminating against disabled children.

He said all students, including those with disabilities - had the same aspirations and rights.

"We are part of the education system not in spite of it. We're not a bolt-on.

Read more in today's Bay of Plenty Times