Music lessons threatened?

Press, 7 December 1988, Page 4

Music lessons threatened?

PA Wellington Parents say they fear a 40-year tradition of free Saturday music lessons for primary school children may be threatened by education restructuring. The Education Department’s “out of hours” classes provide group tuition in musical instruments and vocal skills for children who cannot receive this type of teaching at their school. Tutors are paid by the department and in Wellington parents pay just $32 a year for administrative expenses. But the supervisor of the Wellington classes, Ms Ruth Clegg, said parents did not know whether the service would be offered after education reform was implemented in October next year. About 300 had signed a petition seeking an assurance that the classes

would continue, and a submission had also been sent to the education and science select committee. Under the reform, schools will receive an annual budget to pay for salaries and all running expenses. The head office of the department will be streamlined into a Ministry and would be responsible for policy rather than the delivery of services. However, the person with national responsibility for music education in the Education Department, Mr Guy Jansen, said parents were basing their concerns on rumours.

“No decision has been made but there appears to be no reason why the same number of classes should not continue in essentially the same way,” he said.

“It has been proposed that funding be targeted for this purpose.”