Anne Tolley

7 July, 2011

New $8.4 million school for students with special needs

Education Minister Anne Tolley has officially opened the new $8.4 million Mahinawa Specialist School and Resource Centre, based at Mana College in Porirua.

�This new school and resource centre shows the Government�s commitment to providing education for students with special needs,� says Mrs Tolley.

�Mahinawa Specialist School ensures that some of our most vulnerable students have a learning environment that effectively supports their additional learning and support needs.

�This is in contrast to the poor conditions they had to endure on the previous Kapi Mana school site.

�And with the main school situated on the Mana College site, it means students can become integrated in the life of the college � something which they weren�t able to do at their previous school.

�In addition to the investment in new buildings at Mahinawa, we are continuing to fund improvements at mainstream schools so that they are accessible to students with special needs.�

27 students attend the Mahinawa base school at Mana College, with another 30 students attending satellite units at Raumati Beach, Titahi Bay Intermediate, Ngati Toa School and Porirua School.