Parents of a boy with autism are hopeful the ministry will relax its zoning policy so he can move to a school where he won't be bullied, they say.
Pakuranga Intermediate. Photo: Google
The child had been a pupil at Pakuranga Intermediate School, but his parents have pulled him out due to serious bullying.
They have requested to send him to another school, but it's out of zone.
The New Zealand Herald reported the ministry's Auckland office originally declined that request on the grounds the case did not meet the conditions for such a move.
The ministry said it has since received expert advice that it would be in the best interest for the student to move schools. It would make a decision shortly.
Acting national deputy Susan Howan said eight pupils were moved to out of zone schools last year in Auckland, and could not provide the reasons behind those moves because the ministry does not collect that data.
"We are in the process of sourcing and collating the data nationally," she said.
Ministry guidelines say medical, psychological or expert opinion must be provided on why a young person should be enrolled out of zone.
Autism New Zealand chief executive Dane Dougan said he supported a change in clause that includes allowing disabled pupils to move out of zone, but added that for this to happen schools would need to be better equipped to work with these pupils.