57921 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education

57921 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Minister of Education: What counselling and/or therapy, if any, is provided either by the Ministry of Education or a kura for excluded ākonga and/or their whānau during the exclusion process?

Hon Erica Stanford: Under Section 84 of the Education and Training Act 2020, schools and kura are required to take all steps to ensure that students have the guidance and counselling that are reasonable and practicable where they have been stood down or suspended. The Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requires schools and kura to notify the Ministry immediately of any exclusions. The Ministry will gauge, and subsequently provide, the appropriate level of support for the student involved. Most, if not all, secondary schools provide guidance counsellors that students can access should they need to. In addition, the Ministry funds counselling services in 236 selected primary, intermediate and small secondary schools. While these services are not specifically directed towards support for ākonga during the exclusion process, it could be an appropriate support for ākonga showing signs of mental distress prior to this process.