A snapshot of national standards results released today by Education Minister Hekia Parata suggests Maori and Pasifika students are failing in the education system.

A Northland teacher who was suspended last month after he supported a pro-gay protest at the Catholic College he taught at has lost his job.

Prime Minister John Key has defended Minister of Education Hekia Parata's handling of a sensitive proposal that involves closing and merging some Christchurch schools.

Hundreds of "battle hardened'' Cantabrians descended on the eerie half-demolished central city to voice concerns over the Government's proposed schools shake-up.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has come under fire today for creating more struggle for quake affected families bearing the brunt of proposed changes to Christchurch schools.

Emergency meetings have been held by schools groups trying to get to the bottom of yesterday's confused reveal of a shake-up of Christchurch's schools system.

The Government has been given a fail mark for its handling of a $1b education announcement for post-earthquake Christchurch today, which proposed closing 13 schools.

The Government is set to close 13 Canterbury schools and merge another 18 in an overhaul of the education sector in the area that was revealed today.

In 2004 the Govt closed seven small Northland schools. Alan Perrott and Steven McNicholl return to find out what happened.