Lianne Dalziel

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - Children who were forced to leave Christchurch's Aorangi School when it was closed last year have inadequate facilities for bilingual education at Burnside Primary, Labour MP Lianne Dalziel says.

Ms Dalziel, a Christchurch MP, said Education Minister Anne Tolley ignored repeated warnings that she wasn't allowing enough time and support to parents and children who were being sent to new schools.

"The major concern has centred on the delays around providing a classroom for bilingual education at Burnside Primary," she said.

"Despite assurances from the minister at the time she closed Aorangi, these children are receiving their lessons on the school hall stage."

Ms Dalziel said the children had been through the stress of having their preferred school closed, and they still didn't have a dedicated bilingual classroom at their new school.

"How are they meant to retain their Te Reo Maori in that situation?" she asked.

Ms Dalziel raised the issue in Parliament today, and Mrs Tolley said bilingual education was available at Burnside Primary and Cobham Intermediate.

"There is a process happening at the moment...to discuss the establishment of a bilingual unit," she said.

"There is a set process...committed to establishing the unit. That is happening."

Ms Dalziel said Mrs Tolley had been irresponsible in closing the school before those decisions had been made.