Mana | Movement of the People

 

Minister mean to Moerewa

“I’m not a great fan of National anyway” said Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira “but I can’t believe how bloody mean-spirited and nasty the Minister of Education has been in directing Moerewa School to shut down their senior secondary school class, despite their stunning interim NCEA results”

Harawira said that the Minister had not only declined Moerewa’s application to keep Year 11-13 students at the school, but also put an end to the satellite arrangement that allowed them to be educated at the school.

“The Minister should be using Moerewa’s success as an exemplar on how to run a high Maori population, low decile school and do it successfully” said Harawira “but she won’t because Moerewa won’t toe the line”

Harawira said that the real reason the Minister was shutting down Moerewa’s successful senior class was entirely political.

“Moerewa is one of the few schools in the country to continue to oppose Tolley’s National Standards, and she wants to punish them not only for opposing the standards but also because they are hugely successful without them”

“Moerewa standing as a beacon of opposition and excellence makes the Minister look foolish” said Harawira “and Ministers don’t like being made fools of”

Harawira said that he had supported Moerewa when they applied to keep their Year 9-10 students at their school a few years ago. “The Ministry opposed that application too but the whanau was determined, the principal and the board were committed and they won that battle and have been successful with those students”

“I met with the whanau the other night over this latest issue and pledged my support to this campaign as well” said Harawira. “They are an impressive and close-knit community, who only want what is best for their children.

“If the Minister of Education just took off her blinkers for a moment, she would see what many other principals and politicians can see” said Harawira “Moerewa is a successful example and should be encouraged to build upon that success for the benefit of the students, the whanau and the wider Moerewa community”

ENDS

For further information text Hone Harawira 021 865 372