Tolley's response to be reviewed by PM

APNZ

20 Dec, 2011 12:09 AM2 mins to read

Former Minister of Education Anne Tolley. Photo / Christine Cornege

Prime Minister John Key says he will review former Education Minister Anne Tolley's response to questions about a principal stood down for serious misconduct and later appointed as an "expert'' adviser for the ministry.

Deborah Anne Mutu was put on leave as principal at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe in 2007 after her husband John Hone Mutu, a teacher at the school, was suspended by the board of trustees.

Mr Mutu was suspended after an incident in 2004, when he visited a 15-year-old student at home, knowing she would be alone.

While at the girl's house, Mr Mutu was found lying on a mattress with the girl, under a blanket.

Following the incident, Mrs Mutu ordered staff to tear up the written complaint of the girl and failed to launch an investigation into the allegations.

The couple were deregistered for serious misconduct and were each ordered to pay $20,000 in costs following a Teachers Council disciplinary tribunal hearing in October this year.

Despite the investigation into Mrs Mutu's conduct, she was hired by the Ministry of Education in February as one of 46 student achievement practitioners - "experts'' paid to advise principals.

Labour's Sue Moroney raised Ms Mutu's employment in Parliament on October 6, and Mrs Tolley responded by saying Mrs Mutu had never been suspended.

In a statement today, the ministry said Mrs Mutu had not fully disclosed the full extent of the charge against her before October 10, and the ministry had acted as soon as it became aware of the seriousness of the proceedings.

Mrs Tolley said today the answer she gave to Parliament was in line with the advice she had at the time.

When asked whether she should have corrected her answer or issued a statement with the new information, Mrs Tolley said no - "because it was a question that was answered in the House on the last day of the sitting''.

The minister, who has since lost the education portfolio and picked up police, said matters of individual employment were an issue for the ministry and she would not answer further questions.