Bell tolls for controversial school

A controversial privately owned South Waikato school has closed.

Arorangi Private School, north of Tokoroa, did not charge students fees because it was based on the values of an Indian religious movement called Sathya Sai, which believes in free education and healthcare.

It was founded by Tokoroa electrician John Stevens and his wife, Fran, who financed the school since it opened in 2001.

Mr Stevens said Arorangi closed about two weeks ago.

"It was a funding issue."

The school's future had been in doubt since April, when the Education Ministry ruled it could not continue a financing deal with a Government-funded kura kaupapa 100km away in Murupara. The ministry also refused the school state integration.

Mr Stevens said Arorangi's 45 pupils were now in state schools or being home-schooled.

Parents were bitterly disappointed about the closure, he said.

"It was like a tangi - they were really upset."

School chairman Theo Duyvestyn said in a letter to Education Minister Trevor Mallard that Arorangi had been treated unjustly.

"The type of education available at Arorangi school is unique ... a fact that is supported by our ERO [Education Report Office] report," he said.

Mr Mallard said Arorangi was turned down for state integration because there was an oversupply of schools in Tokoroa.

- NZPA