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The Christchurch Civic
Crèche Case |
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The Christchurch Civic Child Care Centre was abruptly
closed yesterday after the Ministry of Education withdrew its operating
licence. The decision, which follows a police briefing with ministry
officials, has left 13 staff redundant. Staff learned of the decision from the city
manager, Mr John Gray, who visited the centre at closing time. The decision to close the centre was supported by
Mr Gray, who was also briefed by the police. The ministry said it revoked the licence because it
believed the centre no longer complied with the Early Childhood Regulations. The decision follows a glowing report on the
centre's management last November by the Education Review Office. This report
was presented to the council last March. The ministry's South Island field manager, Mr Michael
Deaker, said he moved to suspend the licence yesterday morning after being
briefed by the police in the previous 72 hours. He would not comment on whether the briefing related
to a police inquiry into sexual abuse at the centre. A former employee at the
centre has been charged with sexual offences against children, aged two to
four, at the centre between November 1988 and March 1991. He was remanded
last month to a pre-depositions hearing on October 5. Mr Deaker said the council was legally entitled to make
"representations" on the decision, should it have wanted to keep
the centre open. However, Mr Gray had said that none would be forthcoming. Mr Deaker said: "The suspension was notified
to the city management this morning. They promptly responded by saying they
had no deputations to make, so I took the next step to cancel that licence.
It will be published in the Education Gazette in due course." Detectives had indicated that suspending the
licence was the most appropriate thing to do, he said. Council staff were last night contacting the 50 to
60 parents with children at the centre. Parents have been sent a list of
alternative child-care centres. Most children are regular as opposed to
drop-in users. The Local Government Officers' Union was considering
its options for challenging the ministry's decision. Secretary Mr Peter
Lawson said the ministry should be held to account. The decision had yet to
be explained to staff, many of whom were distraught. After speaking to Mr Lawson last night, Mr Gray formally
withdrew the notices of redundancy issued earlier, and has placed staff on
two weeks' paid leave. Redeployment options will be considered at a meeting
of council staff and the union today. Parents contacted last night said they were aghast
at the decision to close and angry about the lack of notice. The head of the centre's management committee, Mr
Simon Fraser, said parents would seek the ministry's explanation for the
move. |
