‘Chance' of exam. fee cut

Press, 2 July 1986, Page 1

‘Chance' of exam. fee cut

PA Wellington The Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, said yesterday there was still “a strong chance” that proposed School Certificate examination fees increases could be reduced. This would require greater Government subsidy of the cost to students sitting the examination, a delay in fee increases due to markers and supervisors, or a little of both, he said. . ■ Mr Marshall met the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association president, Mr Peter Allen, to discuss the association’s opposition to proposals that markers and supervisors' fee increases be delayed as a cost-cutting measure. After the meeting, Mr Allen reiterated the P.P.T.A. position that the cost of sitting external examinations should be borne by the community. He said the P.P.T.A. had not been able to suggest ways of reducing the fee.

Staff fee rises were the biggest item In the increased cost of sitting the examination, Mr Marshall said. Markers and supervisors have been awarded increases of .27 per cent and 15.5 per cent in fees. The Government announced last month that candidates must pay a $lO registration fee, up from $7, plus $1 in GST. Individual subjects, which used to cost $7, will now cost $lO plus $1 GST. Since last week’s decision was announced, it had been discovered that the total cost for six papers would be $77, not $66, because the previous Government had withdrawn dispensation for the sixth paper in 1982. The decision was part of a Cabinet requirement for working towards full recovery of costs by 1988. Mr Marshall said he accepted the P.P.T.A.’s concern that delaying staff fee increases could cause problems in recruiting the calibre of staff needed for examination assessment "I can’t afford to run that risk, and I am not of a mind to say ‘You can’t have it this time round’. But we might delay some of it” he said. The other option was to reduce the planned cost recovery figure.