14 Sep 2015

School closure: 'Why didn't they wait?'

9:10 am on 14 September 2015

An Auckland MP says the parents of students at a private school in Auckland are frustrated with the Ministry of Education's decision to shut it down.

Pacific Christian School at Mangere Bridge, Auckland.

Pacific Christian School at Mangere Bridge, Auckland. Photo: Radio NZ

The Pacific Christian School in Mangere has had its registration suspended amid allegations of physical abuse of students, and a report which found the principal and some teachers were not fully registered.

The school came under scrutiny last year, when an 11 year old stabbed another child with a pair of scissors.

But Mangere MP Su'a WIlliam Sio told Morning Report that parents are upset they had to pull their children out in the middle of the school term.

"There was certainly a sense of disappointment by the parents who said they weren't consulted by the Ministry of Education about the decision. They felt that if the Ministry was looking at the welfare of the children, why didn't they wait until the end of the year if they'd waited this long before making the decision anyway."

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