Bigger equipment grants for schools

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 4

Bigger equipment grants for schools

PA Wellington Primary schools will get a boost in’ their grants for basic equipment and maintenance, the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) announced yesterday.

An extra $2.5 million has been allocted to schools maintenance, bringing the total amount committed for this year to $l4 million. , The grant for basic equipment, covering costs >for cleaning, office and classroom supplies, is $900,000. Mr Wellington said -the

decline in demand for new schools made it possible to provide extra maintenance funds. “Not one new school will be built this financial year. The money will be distri-’ buted to individual boards, after discussions with the Education Boards Association," he said. Commenting on the basic equipment grant, he said a 10-year programme had expired last year, about $500,000 having been scent. “There have been a series of significant inputs, intended

to bring all schools up to standard of the basic equipment list,” he said. “In spite of the 10-year plan, there are still some deficiencies. This latest allocation will help overcome these. I have also asked the education boards to determine the remaining needs and priorities. The results of their surveys should be known by the end of this financial year.” Programmes for the replacement and repair of equipment have been allocated $l.B million.