The end of school term this weekend marks a big change in Nelson secondary education. Students and their families will no longer have a choice of co-ed or single sex education after having both options for decades.
This change is because of Labour’s education policy. Their new law passed in 2020, gives the Government the power to direct which school a student must attend. School enrolment policies used to be made by each School Board of Trustees but are now determined by Government. I disagree with this “Government knows best” approach that has also seen Nelson lose control of our polytechnic NMIT.
I am a proud supporter of all our colleges. My four children have had an excellent education at Nelson College for Girls, Nelson College and currently at Nayland College. I highly rate Waimea College where my wife was educated and Garin College that I helped establish when I was Minister of Education. Our five Colleges have different strengths and not all teenagers are the same. It also ensures our Colleges continuously strive to do better.
The Nayland zone was strongly opposed by over 100 submissions from parents. The Nayland College Board called it “draconian” and “did not respect diversity”, a view endorsed by Nayland’s talented Principal Daniel Wilson. The Labour Government ignored these Nelson submissions and put the new restrictions into effect this month.
Nelson parents are so annoyed two petitions have been organised opposing the loss of choice of a co-ed education by Rebecca Glen and Brendan Hills. Rebecca’s is still open for signatures at https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_99420
Nelson has a proud educational history of excellence, choice and innovation dating back to the establishment of New Zealand’s first schools. This loss of parental choice of school and local decision making by school boards compromises Nelson giving every student the best possible education.
