Special-needs education fund welcomed

Press, 19 December 1989, Page 4

Special-needs education fund welcomed

By MARITA VANDENBERG The Christchurch College of Education is welcoming the announcement of a $2 million contestable fund for tertiary institutions wanting to offer equity-related programmes. Last week members of the college council claimed it was “pie in the sky stuff” to agree to promote equal education opportunities for disadvantaged groups if adequate . funding was not available. In announcing the fund on Friday the Ministry of Education Learning For Life co-ordinator, Dr Alan Barker, said the funds would be available for groups which stand to benefit from special programmes.

“These may include people with disabilities and special needs; people with literacy needs; low income groups; rural groups; people requiring special learning assistance; women; specific ethnic groups and other groups identified by the institutions as being disadvantaged,” he said. The principal of the

Christchurch College of Education, Dr Colin Knight, said the college would apply for about $lOO,OOO from the fund. The money would be used to run pre-enrolment courses for students with literacy and learning difficulties, to increase Pacific Island trainees in the primary sector and Maori trainees in the secondary sector. Dr Knight said the college also hoped to appoint two part-time officers to address equal employment opportunities and equal education opportunities. “Colleges of Education would have a particular claim on the fund,” he said.

“Polytechs and universities already had provision made for equal employment officers in the past. This is giving Colleges of Education the chance to make the same kind of appointment.” In allocating the fund, the Ministry would take into account factors such as the size of the institution, its location and the number of students who would benefit from the proposal, said Dr Barker.