Country high school aid

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33579, 6 July 1974, Page 18

Country high school aid

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON'. A new policy to strengthen small district high schools has been approved by the Government.

This policy introduces: ! A new scheme for the organisation and administration of district high schools. i Improved salary scales and staffing establishments. iNew .machinery for the appointment of teachers to district high schools, I Improved building and equipment codes. "These improvements, approved by the Cabinet at its meeting this week, are intended to upgrade smaller district high schools to their proper place in the New Zealand education system,” the Minister of Education (Mr Amos) said' in a statement. “The basis of the Government’s policy is that smallness should not result in inferior educational opportunities for children in the more remote country districts.” BETTER FACILITIES The re-organised district high schools .will enrol pupils from their contributing primary schools at the Form I level. About 25 small district high schools will be reconstituted, and their facilities and accommodation improved, in the next few years. The Minister said that the Department of Education was holding proposals from a number of education boards for the improvement of district high schools, in accordance with the new policy. “These proposals will now take effect from February, 1975,” Mr Amos said. The Minister said he appreciated the assistance provided by -the Education Boards’ Association, the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association, and the Educational Institute — all of which had been consulted in the formulation of this new policy. CONTROL SYSTEM The reorganised district high schools will be controlled by district education boards,. with the assistance of school committees of management representative of contributing schools. Each committee of management' will have a maximum of nine members, including an education board representative, at least for the first two years. Five to seven members will be ielected by parents.

' Mr Amos said that to allow for widely differing proportions of children at different levels, the staffing entitlement would be determined on the basis of a teacher-pupil ratio for infants to Standard Four of 11/25, and for Forms 1 to VI jof 1/20. All appointments will be itnade by the district education board on the recommendation of an appointments committee comprising The district senior inspector, the district education board, the education institute, the P.P.T.A., and the chairman of the school’s committee of management dr his nominee.