Principal a 'dictator', teachers tell ERO

A high school is not providing a good education for its students, has unqualified teachers, and staff who feel the principal is a 'dictator', according to an Education Review Office (ERO) report.

In the past year, Tokoroa High School has lost a teaching block to arson and has endured financial difficulties, the board of trustees' resignation and a high turnover of teachers.

"In ERO's view Tokoroa High School is having difficulty providing a satisfactory education for its students, particularly those in Year 9 and 10," the report said.

Figures released by the NZQA also show that year 11 students -- former fifth formers -- are also failing.

The percentage of those achieving level one in reading and maths for National Certificate of Educational Achievement qualifications plunged from 64 and 67 per cent to 47 and 58 per cent between 2003 and 2004.

In both cases the results put the school well below the national average and also below the average for decile two schools.

About 60 per cent of staff interviewed by ERO in December 2004 said they were unhappy with principal Elgin Edwards' leadership style.

"Many perceived him to be confrontational and dictatorial in manner," the report said.

Since then, about 30 per cent of the teaching staff have left the school.

Mr Edwards was suspended in November last year amid allegations of staff bullying but reinstated with $12,000 compensation.

He has refused to comment.

The report said the school had 11 provisionally registered teachers, and eight who were not registered, but who held certificates giving them limited authority to teach.

ERO said the school was not providing the required support from senior teachers for these people.

The inexperienced teachers were partly responsible for the poor learning in Year 9 and 10 because they could not maintain discipline in class or engage students and had ineffective planning, it said.

The school's commissioner Dennis Finn said it was in a circle of decline "and we need to generate it out of that".

- nzpa