Minister defends Catholic schools aid

Press, 5 March 1984, Page 9

Minister defends Catholic schools aid

New Zealand parents had the inalienable right to send their children to the school that fitted their faith and beliefs, said the Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Wellington was speaking at the opening of a new science and teaching building at Villa Maria College yesterday afternoon. He said that the Government had recognised the difficulties that Catholic schools had in raising money to bring facilities up to standard for integration with the State system. The total needed was $76 million.

Because of those difficulties, the Government had recently decided to extend the time for completion of

work until March, 1991. The original date was March, 1988. It had also increased the loan facility available to schools through the Housing Corporation from 66 per cent of the cost of work to 90 per cent. Mr Wellington said the Government had eased the requirements for Catholic schools because New Zealand parents had the right to send their children to the school that suited their faith.

“That is an inalienable right and it is the first principle of the administration and management of the New Zealand education system” he said.

The decision also recognised the distinctive contri-

button made to young people and to the nation by church schools. In its decision, the Government had passed the strongest possible vote of confidence in the future of Catholic schools. “The whole exercise has shown that Church and State can work together for the common good,” he said. The official opening ceremony of the $360,000 wing was attended by several hundred staff, students, parents, and guests. The Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby, blessed the building. The new wing contains two science laboratories, two classrooms, a clothing room, offices, and resource rooms.