Private schools little affected by recession

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 23

Private schools little affected by recession

PA Wellington The rural recession is having little effect on the rolls of some of New Zealand’s leading private schools, the “Evening Post” reports. The newspaper approached seven private schools which traditionally attract significant numbers of farmers’ children to see if the recession was affecting enrolments at the schools, where fees can be as high as $7OOO a year.

The answer from schools was that there had been either no effect or a minimal one.

There were, however, two riders: first, that it might be too early to relate the full extent of

the recession; and second, if rural families are financially hard-pressed they will still do their utmost to give their children the best education they can.

One of the few outward signs of rural anxiety was at Auckland’s King’s College where four parents who had enrolled their children for 1987 have withdrawn the enrolments.

The headmaster, Mr I. P. Campbell, said this was "disturbing.” There were other parents who were “just hoping things would get better.” He said about 160 of the school’s 400 boarders were farmers’ sons.

The headmaster of

Rathkeale College, Masterton, Mr John Taylor, said he had noticed a slight decrease in boarding enrolments from the rural sector but this was compensated by an increase from urban areas.

As well, some parents were enrolling their sons as day boys when they had been boarders in the past.

Christ’s College in Christchurch has had few changes, although one parent has discussed with the principal, Dr Max Rosser, whether a boy should stay at school for four or five years, because of financial worry.

Rolls are up at the college this year, and show little sign of easing next year. “Rural people are mainly boarders, and there is certainly a demand for boarding places next year,” Dr Rosser said.

He said some parents were making sacrifices to send their sons to the school, a point shared by the headmaster of Waihi School, Mr Peter Prosser. At Waihi, the roll was full to its maximum of 99, all boarders, and was "comfortably full” next year, Mr Prosser said.

There have been no pupil withdrawals from Craighead School in Timaru, although the principal, Mrs Carroll Benge, said the school board was aware of the rural community’s problems.

Mrs Benge said there were not as many third form boarders enrolled next year as there usually were.

At Hereworth School in Havelock North, there have been no withdrawals and few concerns. Work on next year’s roll was only just beginning, said the acting principal, Mr Gerald Clark.