Anger about threat of cuts in education spending

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 2

Anger about threat of cuts in education spending

The main teachers’ and student organisations reacted angrily yesterday to a suggestion made by the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) that there might be reductions in educational expenditure this year.

Mr Gandar had told a meeting of the Wellington Principals Association that he could not agree that education was too important to suffer any scrutiny or restraints, in the present economic situation. Mr Gandar said that wherever possible the Government had sought ways of making savings by “slowing down and pruning." rather than cutting out, educational spending. The president of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr B. W. Kelly) said that its 23,000 members were vitally concerned about the fact that Mr Gandar's statements were at variance with assurances from the Government that the National Party was concerned about the quality of education. "All this indicates a ruthlessness on the part of the Deputy Minister of Finance (Mr Gair) and his financial colleagues that could result

in Mr Gandar being remembered as the ‘Minister against Education,’ like his predecessor in the 19305,” Mr Kelly said. The “message was clear” that the Government expected parents to dig deeper in then pockets to make up the difference in educational spending. "Hough time’ The children who would suffer most would be those from communities where lowar-paid parents were already struggling with increases in such basic living costs as those of bread, milk, power, and fares. “Substantial cuts can only mean that children, parents, and teachers are in for a rough time as the restriction of the economy is put before the ‘once only’ chance of children,” Mr Kelly said. Mr Kelly said that many people would now realise how the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) intended to finance the new Government superannuation scheme. “Every sector of society will pay for it, through cuts

lin educational opportunities and subsidies, and increases in the costs of other essential services,” said Mr Kelly. The president of the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association, (Mr G. Warner) said that he supported every thing Mr Kelly had said. “Mr Gandar is certainly not in any way living up to his election promise to maintain and possibly expand the present level of educational growth.” he said.

‘Angry teachers’ “We expect drastic cuts; and I have been inundated with telegrams from thousands of angry teachers regarding the warning on educational cut-backs,” Mr Warner said. The president of the New Zealand University Students’ Association (Mr J. Blincoe) and the president of the Student Teachers’ Association (Mr A. Purves) said in a joint statement that Mr Gandar’s warning about reductions in spending on education was in complete contrast to a statement he had made in Parliament on June 5 last. At that time, Mr Gandar had said that the economic conditions in New Zealand had “never been worse,” but that that was no excuse for letting educational facilities and provisions for education deteriorate. “Yet Mr Gandar plans this cruel attempt to make the nation’s children pay for the economic recession.” Mr Purves said.