THE Minister for Education and Children in the Isle of Man has said it would be "immoral" to keep Bride Infants' School open.
Peter Karran MHK said the decision had to be taken because the money spent running the school could be put to better use elsewhere.
Last week the Department of Education and Children was forced to release details of a wave of cuts it was making ahead of this year's Budget being announced tomorrow (February 21).
The cuts included the closure of the school, the end of all government run pre-school education and the closure of the Family Library in Douglas and the mobile library service.
A decision was taken to close Bride Infants' School after predicted pupil numbers for September showed that only four pupils would be attending – three in the reception class and one in year one.
Affected pupils will be transferred to Andreas Primary School with which Bride Infants' School merged in 2005.
Stuart Dobson, the chief executive of the Department of Education and Children, explained: "The numbers registering to start their compulsory schooling at Bride are now so low that it is increasingly difficult to offer them the range of educational stimuli and experiences we would wish to at the Bride site.
"When this is put alongside the judgement contained in the 2009 external review of Bride School which criticised the quality of the accommodation as inadequate it is clear why the department wishes to close it and transfer education of these pupils to Andreas which is where they already progress to when they reach seven.
"There will clearly be a cost saving to the department, mainly from reduction in building costs, but a key driver in making this decision is also the need to ensure the quality of education provided for the children of Bride and that it is best done by them attending Andreas School."
Speaking about the decision Mr Karran said: "It would have been immoral to keep that building open as a school. Even if we weren't in the position we are in I would rather have that money put into the teacher pupil ratio."
Also see: Government must stop "inappropriate" cuts says ATL
Education cuts are regrettable but essential says Minister
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