Four hours daily on bus too much for pupils

Students from the remote Far North are quitting school as young as 14 rather than endure four hours of bus travel every day.

The problem has led the Ministry of Education to consider plans for a high-tech learning centre to combat truancy and behaviour issues in the area.

The group of 32 teenagers from the small Far North communities of Te Hapua, 102km northwest of Kaitaia, and Te Kao, 70km northwest of Kaitaia, travel up to four hours every day to get to Kaitaia College and home again.

Kaitaia district truancy co-ordinator Audrey Beazley-Somervell said the arduous travel made students leave school early or regularly refuse to attend school.

On average, about six children from the area received permission to leave the college early each year, she said.

"They are leaving school earlier, some of them are getting exempted at 14."

Students must be 16 to leave school but a principal can grant exemption to leave in special circumstances.

At least 14 of the 32 northern students were on her books as registered truants.

For the teenagers who stayed at school, the long distances were leading to sleeping disorders and poor school attendance, Mrs Beazley-Somervell said.

The ministry's Northland manager Chris Eve hoped a long distance learning centre based at Te Hapua school could be established.

He hoped to put the proposal to the Education Minister Trevor Mallard within days.

"Two hours each way is a bit excessive but parents want their kids to have a sense of community that comes from attending school," Mr Eve said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)