More money, time to Catholic schools

Press, 28 February 1984, Page 10

More money, time to Catholic schools

PA Wellington The Government has offered an extra ?6.6 million and more time for improving Catholic school buildings. Catholic authorities would be given longer to meet building obligations for integrating with the State system, the Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, announced at the week-end. The Church says the move has staved off the chance of a substantial rise in school dues. The completion date for bringing schools up to State standards will be extended three years, from March, 1988, to March, 1991. A Government loan facility will be increased to 90 per cent of the capital cost

of improvement work next year, up from 66 per cent. This makes an additional $6.6 million available. The moves follows up an approach by the Catholic authories, who asked for more time to complete the improvement of their 249 integrating schools. Mr Patrick Hoult, executive director of the Catholic Education Office, said the Church was thankful that the Government had seen that something had to be done. The additional loan facility meant that the Church could make better use of the funds available to it, and especially without having to substantially increase the school dues, Mr Hoult told NZPA.