July 26, 2015
East Cape Schools Merger looks promising
A former pupil of Raukokore school in the Western Bay of Plenty well-known Treaty Settlement negotiator Willie Te Aho says a proposed merger with two other schools in the area next year is gaining increasing acceptance.
Willie Te Aho who with around 200 residents meet with Education Mininster Hekia Parata at Te Kaha last week says while there was one or two voices very opposed to the merger of his old school and Te Kura o Omaio another year 1 to 8 school with 1 to 13 year area school Te Whanau – a – Apanui there was acceptance of the need to look at the issue in broad terms.
He says while the issue is a challenge its not something new having been around for the past four years.
What he liked about the hui was alot of forward thinking with people saying it was not about buildings but building the future for our kids.
Willie Te Aho says the Minister gave an assurance that the new school would not go ahead without a further round of consultation where it would be considered in conjunction with Finance Minister Bill English's promise of economic development money for the area which would counter continually falling rolls.
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