Enrolments at New Zealand’s three residential special schools for disabled children have increased, doubling in numbers, while the government plans their future. The Ministry of Education Ministry has allocated $11.5 million to these schools in 2023, accommodating a total of 84 children. As of mid-June, the schools reported 44 enrolments, a major increase from the 23 students recorded in the same period last year. Moreover, additional students are expected to join in the upcoming term, bringing the schools closer to their maximum capacity.
This increase in enrolments came almost a year after the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities urged the government to close the boarding schools and re-tailor funding toward community-based support. However, Education Minister Jan Tinetti stated that the government has no intention of reducing funding or shutting down the schools.
The principals of the boarding schools have raised their concerns about the uncertainty about their future. Janine Harrington, the Principal of Halswell, stated that they have been waiting for a decision since 2022. The promised timeline for a resolution has been repeatedly delayed, leaving the schools at a standstill. Harrington feels that misinformation and the belief that every student should be integrated into mainstream schools have resulted in lower enrolment numbers, while there is still a need for specialist and residential schools.
In the same vein, David Bagwell, the principal of Westbridge, stressed that though enrolments have increased, the school’s future is still uncertain. The increasing numbers are at variance with the prevailing political backdrop. Bagwell said the delay in decision-making may be influenced by the upcoming elections. The ministry’s notional roll of 32 students for Westbridge is viewed as unrealistic, as the current level of funding is only sufficient for not more than 24 students.
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had previously recommended that the government withdraw its proposal to alter entry requirements for enrolment in residential specialist schools. It instead advised redirecting funding and resources into an inclusive education system and developing a comprehensive de-institutionalization strategy. The committee called for an end to investment in residential specialist schools for disabled children.
The boarding schools’ enrolment criteria state that they cater to young individuals between 8 and 15 years with complex and challenging behaviour, social, and/or learning needs that need school-based support. These schools are not meant for children that require interventions in their homes or communities, such as through the Education Ministry’s Intensive Wraparound Service.
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