The Ministry of Education has suspended the registration of the Tokaikolo Church’s Pacific Christian School in Mangere Bridge, Auckland because of serious and ongoing concerns about the safety and welfare of the students.
Police have warned four teachers at the school following alleged physical disciplines of some of the students.
The Ministry was also concerned about the quality of teaching at the school and it says it will closely monitor it while its registration was suspended.
This was the first time the Ministry has suspended a private school in News Zealand and it was not an easy decision to be made, it says.
In a statement in Tongan and in English released to Kaniva News this morning the Ministry says it has met with the private school a number of time in an attempt to make sure the students are safe while they are at school “but they haven’t provided us with any assurances to change our view that the children at this school are at risk. That can’t be allowed to continue”.
“We have taken into account a special review from the Education Office Review Report that has found a number of concerns remain, including the quality of teaching and learning and the welfare of students. It recommended that we review the school’s licence”.
“We have also been working with Police and Child, Youth and Family as they completed their investigations into allegations of physical discipline that followed a serious incident at the school last year. Police have advised us that four teachers have been formally warned over their actions and that they have advised the Education Council of the outcome of their investigation.
“While all of those investigations have been carried out, the Ministry has been watching the school very closely and we would have acted immediately if required.
“The suspension of the school’s registration takes effect from September the 25th. We will be very closely monitoring the school until then and making sure that we are fully supporting the students at the school and their families. We have a team of Tongan speaking staff who will be working alongside the families to make sure the 70 students are enrolled at new schools by the start of Term Four.
The suspension will remain in place until the school can satisfy us that students would not be at risk in terms of both their learning and safety and welfare. If that doesn’t happen, we have the option of cancelling the registration”.
