BackThe Chief Ombudsman is concerned some school boards are failing to act fairly when children are facing disciplinary action, decisions on enrolment or other decisions that affect their education.
Peter Boshier says parents and children have the right to complain to him if they feel a school board hasn’t followed the correct process which is particularly important in disciplinary proceedings or decisions on enrolment.
“No one likes it when their children get into trouble but if they find themselves in that difficult situation, parents need to be sure that school boards are going to do the right thing,” Mr Boshier says.
“Boards should also ensure that parents who raise issues around enrolment are given adequate information to understand the reasons behind a decision.
“Fortunately, most boards either know what to do or are willing to put things right. It is very disappointing when boards fail to see my recommendations as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and improve their processes and decision-making.
“What’s even more unfortunate is that failure by a school board to accept my recommendations reflects badly on the school as a whole. What many parents are looking for is recognition by the board that it has failed them and is willing to apologise.”
Mr Boshier recently investigated complaints about the boards of St Peter’s College in Auckland and Cashmere High School in Christchurch. Both boards have refused to implement some of his key recommendations.
“I have now decided to publish case notes on these complaints which I do when I believe there is a public interest in doing so. A case note outlines how I investigated a complaint and how I reached a decision.
Read the case note for the St Peter's College Board
Read the case note for the Cashmere High School Board
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Source: Ombudsman, New Zealand
