Some schools ‘affluent’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32659, 15 July 1971, Page 12

Some schools ‘affluent’

The fact that there were a number of affluent primary schools “knocks the ground from under those who claim education grants are not sufficient,” the Canterbury School Committees’ Association was told last evening. Mr J. Dysart, the assistant general manager of the Canterbury Education Board, told the association that some primary schools had substantial credit balances. In fact, some appeared to have money to spare. ;

‘‘At the ■ present ' rates, I sigree it .is difficult to make ends meet, but some still are enjoying affluent times,” he said. "This knocks the ground from under us when we say that our grants are not sufficient.- - "We have cases of some schools having a credit balance of about $5OO, and others with a deficit of about the same. Perhaps we can equalise this, and solve all the problems.” Mr Dysart 'said that the rboard could help schools in financial trouble, but it had to do this at (he expense of others living within their incomes.

If schools fell into debt the board encouraged them to live within their incomes,

although it was recognised that it was difficult to do this and keep a school running and well maintained. Referring to voluntary work by parents at primary schools, Mr Dysart said that there was no insurance cover for such work. This included such tasks as helping in classrooms, libraries, at sports, and remedial reading. The only exception to this was when parents attending working bees organised bv school committees, at which times they came under a special Government cover. He also referred to the payment of school caretakers, which the association had been attempting to have increased. He said that the board had placed before the Department of Education proposals for an increase in wages, and for equal pay for women caretakers.

“We realise that, to get reliable men and womeri, we have to offer good working conditions and a better rate of pay,” said Mr Dysart. “Unfortunately, caretakers are outside the ruling-rate svstem. We would like to see them get this, as do other State servants.”

Mr Dysart said there’ had been numerous changes in education in the last few years. In rural areas, form 1 to VII schools had been introduced, as an equivalent of the suburban intermediate system.

This had proved very successful, and Mr Dysart said he was sure no rural areas would like to return, to the old system. He also said that the science syllabus had been extended to forms I and 11, as had languages, and a 1-35 teacher-pupil ratio had been introduced.