Leaders say school ‘not a lost cause’
Teething issues at a newly amalgamated Hamilton school are a product of a speedy transition with a lack of resourcing but it’s not a lost cause, local leaders say.
In fact, they’re predicting some “sitting superstars” will be found at Mangakōtukutuku College.
The school replaced Melville Intermediate and High School, combining the two campuses, and reportedly inherited legacy issues when it opened this year.
In its first few weeks there was a fight in which a junior student was allegedly knocked out cold, and the school called a meeting with parents about truancy, fighting and vandalism. Security guards now patrol the college.
The number of problems at the college left educator of 30 years and local leader Tame Pokaia “taken aback”.
“In my view [the transition] was done too fast without a plan, a proper plan, so when the kids came together it was like, right you’ve got your lessons on Monday,” Pokaia said.
“They hadn’t even finished the buildings, I could tell because you could still see where the old signage was taken off... [The principal] said the ministry hasn’t given money to upgrade, that could take one or two years.” The Ministry of Education opted to close the two schools in 2022 in preparation for city growth, with then education minister Chris Hipkins saying it’d establish “an innovative new school that meets the needs of current and future local young people”.
The Ministry has previously declined to answer funding questions, saying it was yet to confirm details of investment but would work with the board on a plan for property development from early 2024.
Pokaia said he’d try his best to contribute where possible, adding there were many “lovely children” at the school yet to showcase their potential.
Trying to get a “good spirit” back would take funding and support such as counsellors or mentors, but finding spare cash was hard. The events at Mangakōtukutuku College were disappointing but not unusual in a new school or old school re-branding, Hamilton City
Councillor Moko Tauariki said.
“It’s definitely not a lost cause, when you put more resources into places like Mangakōtukutuku, I bet you that school has some identified talent...I believe we’ve got some sitting superstars in that school.”
School principal Thilo Govinder did not respond to a Waikato Times request for an interview regarding what the school needed to resolve the issues, but in a recent letter to parents and caregivers said the school needed their help with students’ behaviour.