Closings likely next year

Press, 10 November 1988, Page 16

Closings likely next year

Many urban and rural schools will close after the restructuring of education administration next year, the Canterbury Education Board heard yesterday. However, the closings would not be made by the Government, but by the community, said the board’s general manager, Mr Keith McNeil. He was replying to a comment from a board member, Mrs Nedra Johnson, that the Government’s hidden agenda under the new administration was for schools to close. Mr McNeil said that boards of trustees would see that there would be some advantages in closing some schools and reallocating resources. The new system provided an

incentive to use money wisely, as money saved would stay with the schools, rather than going into the general Consolidated Fund. “Schools will not be forced to close, but action by the community will see schools close, because people will see the benefits,” he said. A board member, Mr Gerald Maister, said that some urban schools would close. One example was the north-west of Christchurch, where there were many schools, and many empty classrooms, he said. Those schools which the community perceived as having better teachers, and better programmes would remain, and the others would close, Mr Maister said.