School councils bill criticised

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 38

School councils bill criticised

PA Wellington The effectiveness of parent participation in secondary schools would be reduced if the Education Amendment Bill (No. 3) became law, the Auckland Grammar Schools Board has told the Parliamentary Select Committee considering the bill. The bill provides for the establishment of District Education Councils to take over education administration from the present district education boards. The Auckland board said such a move in Auckland would cut across the concept of local control of secondary schools that had been a longstanding strength of the secondary service.

“The bill provides that the Minister could impose a council system on Auckland at the request of one education authority. This board would vigorously resist the imposition of such a scheme in its area.

“Something of such importance should only be contemplated when there is an agreement and co-operation of education groups in the

area and where the District Education Council can be set up in a form acceptable to those groups and tailored to suit local needs.”

The Secondary School Board Association told the select committee that any reorganisation of educational administration' must retain the present direct access of boards to the administrative body, the Education Department, and the' Minister.

The proposed legislation made the access of boards to the administrative body less direct than under the present scheme, it said. The functions and responsibilities of secondary school boards were in doubt under the reorganisation proposed in the bill, said the association. The present autonomy of secondary schools ih the proposed scheme may not be preserved. The bill also provides for the Minister to control membership of the proposed councils.

“The power given to the Minister in the legislation will deter lay bodies from seeking to form District Edu-

cation Councils and also deter lay persons from seeking election to such councils." the association said. “The Ministers’ powers should be that of approval only.”

The association's doubts were echoed by the New Zealand Educational Institute in its submissions. The N.Z.E.I. said that under the proposed legislation the Minister would have the power to prevent or terminate representation of teachers on councils.

They would also have the power to remove from councils any Individuals who opposed them either generally or on a specific issue, thus enabling them to ensure the council gave effect to their views.

The institute said such power was surprising in view of the current provisions governing the membership of education boards. These provisions include the requirement that the board includes a member representing all teachers employed by the board.