'Area schools hit’

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 2

'Area schools hit’

More parents in rural districts were able now to send 1 their children to boarding ——

schools, “by-passing” area ! schools, because of measures [ announced in the Budget, the j Canterbury Education Board; ! was told yesterday.

' The increase in yearly ; boarding bursaries from $5OO to $6OO, and the lump-sum i payment announced for

I farmers, added up to someI thing which should worry the I board, said Mrs N. J. JohnI son.

p Money was being spent upgrading area schools, but ‘ until problems at area (schools were sorted out, people would “by-pass” them.

Mr M. C. Butler said a genuine effort was being made to upgrade area schools, but he had been “appalled” by the slowness in some cases. There had been difficulty attracting staff to the schools because of the remuneration received. Mr R. F. Armstrong said area schools were in good heart, their programmes were sound, and the pupils were happy. The main problem was the teachers’ salaries. The board’s general manager (Mr D. Wilson) said that at the last meeting of the Education Boards’ Association it had been recom-j mended that the area school I working party be recon-I vened. “This is all we can do at! the moment,” he said.