Demand high for copies

Press, 14 April 1984, Page 7

Demand high for copies

PA Wellington The Coalition for Open Government has been swamped with requests for copies of the controversial original working party document on the core curriculum review for schools. The coalition released copies of the report on Monday after widespread criticism by education groups that the final report contained big differences from the original draft. The report recommends changes to the compulsory subjects taught in New Zealand schools.

A coalition spokesman, Mr Michael Smith, said that demand for the draft report had been so high that it had had to print a third run of 50 copies. “Requests have come from throughout New Zea-

land — from parent teacher organisations, university-re-lated bodies, bookshops, and interested individuals.”

The release of the report by the coalition had meant that previously secret, copies of the document had now become available for public circulation and discussion, Mr Smith said. "This additional spur to the discussion makes it all the more important that the Minister reconsiders his decision to allow only two months for public submissions on this crucial issue.” The Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, has said he will have to be “mightily persuaded” to change anything in the final report, before it is implemented in schools next year. The closing date for submissions is June 1.