Questions for lawyers Found 20

We are considering taking our nine-year-old out of school to teach them at home. Neither of us is a qualified teacher. Do we need permission from the Ministry, and how does the government check that the education is adequate?

My daughter’s school has threatened to send her home for wearing her hair in a style connected to our culture, claiming it breaches the uniform policy. She has worn it for years without an issue. Can a school really enforce rules like that?

My nephew is an international student who paid a year’s fees to a private training provider that has now closed. He is worried about losing his fees and his visa status. What protections exist for international students?

My child has come home distressed several times and says a teacher humiliates students in class and shouts at them. I have raised it with the principal informally and was brushed off. What formal channels exist to complain about a teacher?

My son has a diagnosed condition that affects his reading speed, and his specialist recommended extra time and a reader-writer for exams. The school mentioned there is a formal process and some costs involved. Can they charge us for these arrangements, and how do we apply?

We have just moved and want to enrol our daughter at the local school, but the school says it is full and that we live outside its enrolment zone. We do not want to send her to a school much further away. Can a state school refuse to enrol a child, and what can we do about it?

Our family holds particular religious beliefs and does not want our child to take part in a certain class activity. The school says it is a compulsory part of the curriculum. Do parents have any right to opt out, and how far does it go?

A teacher took my son’s phone after seeing something on the screen and looked through his messages and photos without asking us. He was very upset. Do teachers or principals have the right to search students or their belongings?

My son has been bullied for months by a group of classmates, including online. I have spoken to his teacher twice and to the principal, but nothing changes and he is starting to refuse to go to school. What are the school’s legal duties and where can I escalate?

My child has missed a lot of school due to anxiety and some family issues, and the school has sent letters mentioning legal action. I am worried and unsure about what is required. Can parents really be prosecuted for non-attendance?