School costs hit poorer families

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 8

School costs hit poorer families

PA . Wellington Children from lowerincome families are being increasingly cut out of school activities because of rising costs, said the president of the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association, Mr Peter Allen, yesterday. Addressing the opening day of the P.P.T.A. national principals’ conference in Wellington, Mr Allen said the cost of education was not shared equally in New Zealand.

Mr Allen said schools were more and more having to find money to help pupils.

Politicians and the community needed to realise this and the effect it would have on children’s educational opportunities if nothing were done.

Mr Allen again attacked the funding of private

schools. He said he was not opposed to private schools, but questioned the system that subsidises parents who send children to such schools at the expense of State schools.

He also, expressed concern about the application of the user-pays principle to education.

Saying the School Certificate examination fees increase was “the.- tip of the iceberg” of increasing costs, Mr Allen said the increase should be revised and the P.P.T.A.’s idea of full taxpayer funding for external examinations implemented next year. -

He said the increase was all the more astonishing given the “apparent readiness” of the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, with the State-paid fees idea.