‘Chuck it in the rubbish’ - parents flame ministry for campus cuts
Thursday, 14 March 2024
Parents have expressed their anger at the Ministry of Education after one of the fastest growing schools in the country had its campus plans delayed and downsized.
Rolleston College is packed with 1800 students and expects 3000 by 2030 yet the ministry has delayed its second campus for a further year while slashing classrooms, nursing spaces, offices and more from an original design.
The school has dubbed the new proposed campus, which includes a large STEM building, single court gym, and 12 to 16 temporary teaching spaces, as unfunctional.
About 150 parents met at Rolleston College on Wednesday to criticise the plan.
Parents told national new schools programme manager David Hobern, representing the ministry, to “chuck it in the rubbish” and that they felt they were “listening to an episode of The Simpsons”.
“You’re holding our kids to ransom for money”, a local teacher said.
“If you do the math for our children you don’t have enough space and this, I’m sorry, is poor.”
One parent claimed “there was no thought put into the infrastructure” their kids needed and scolded the ministry for using national average growth data, not Selywn specific growth data.
Other parents expressed general anger at the lack of community consultation on the second campus and questioned how long the temporary buildings would remain.
In answer, Hobern said: “Until we get a future budget, we can’t determine how long it will be.”
Head student Mackenzie Wills broke into tears detailing how classes were so full she sometimes had to sit in the corridor outside to learn.
She feared future Rolleston students would face a similar inadequate education because the ministry was “not providing us with our needs”.
“This is no longer just about the buildings it is about the future of our young people.
“We are fighting for our right to have an education and we should not have to fight for that.”
Hobern said the proposed plan cost $50 million and acknowledged Rolleston was “a fast growing area” but they needed to balance the investment with other schools in need.
“We’re really keen to get around the table and talk with the board and the principal absolutely, and try and resolve this as best we can.”
Principal Rachel Skelton was hopeful the ministry would come back with a “more palatable and workable plan” for their community.
“We are not asking for anything that you would not expect to find at any large secondary school.
“Principals come and go, politicians come and go, but a school is a long lasting asset for a community and should be built with future generations in mind.”