Education funds caution call

Press, 11 May 1977, Page 18

Education funds caution call

PA Wellington The Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) said that he expected education would be allocated enough money this year to allow all policy commitments to be carried out satisfactorily. However, everyone with responsibility for the expenditure of public money on education would have to watch closely their levels of forward commitment, he said to the Educational Institute in Wellington. “But to enable them to do that we have been able, for the first time, to let controlling authorities know before 'the beginning of their fin[ancial year how much they .would have to budget for,” ■Mr Gandar said. ■ “It will have to be another year of restrained exjpenditure, but not, I hope. las difficult as last year.” i The Minister said that the restoration of the day-relief i scheme had been achieved at lan estimated cost of $2.4M.

The Government was guilty of false economy to the detriment of children and the community, said the outgoing president of the institute (Mr Jack Smith).

He told the opening of the institute conference that, while the strengthening of the education system was in mothballs, priority was given to the police force and the penal system. “The Minister of Education has to be helped to convince his colleagues that they are denying rights to children. denying the, rights of

the community; and, believe it or not in this accountants’ paradise, are guilty of false economy,” Mr Smith said. It was too easy an answer to point to economic problems and use them as a baton to bludgeon the education system, he said.

Teachers were not greatly impressed with the economics of the market place.