Southern schools set to fight back

Education Minister Trevor Mallard can expect a fight from Invercargill schools facing the axe.

South School staff, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Invercargill City councillor Geoff Piercy will meet today to assess what can be done to reverse Mr Mallard's decision to halve the number of primary schools in South Invercargill.

The minister's decision was announced on Friday.

Mr Piercy said some "political manoeuvrings" were still possible. "I just think South School is pretty important in the scheme of things."

Principal Terry Withington said: "I don't believe Mallard has done the best for education in South Invercargill at all."

South School was one of only two decile-one schools in Invercargill, he said.

He could not see how merging schools benefited children. "Some of the most needy children are in our school - otherwise we wouldn't be a decile one.

"It's a strong case for us staying open."

The merging of Clifton, Clarendon, Kew and South schools meant some children would have to walk between 3km and 4km to get an education, he said.

Invercargill City Council was "very keen" on South School staying where it was.

St George School principal Colin Anderson said a lack of professional expertise on South Invercargill boards of trustees could make schools such as his vulnerable to the unfair treatment they had experienced.

St George is to be merged with Elston Lea School.

"The decision presented to the Invercargill community is educationally unsound and blatantly unfair to sections of our community," Mr Anderson said.

- NZPA