Temporary Relief for Christchurch Boards/Schools Announced

17 May 2011

Temporary Relief for Christchurch Boards/Schools in Ministers Announcement on Operational Funding

The Minister of Educations agreement to maintain current levels of boards operational funding through to the end of the year will be a relief to boards and schools in Christchurch says Ray Newport, General Manager, NZSTA.

Boards of some Christchurch schools have been facing a significant financial penalty from the failure of some 5,000 students to return to their schools following the Canterbury earthquake.

The failure of students to return to their school would have had a direct and negative impact on the operational funding of their school says Ray Newport, which may have been quite devastating for those schools which have lost a disproportionate number of students.

“The Ministers announcement will be very well received by boards and schools, and is the correct one given the overall circumstances of the situation, and the continuing difficulties that some boards/schools continue to face”.

The board’s operational grant pays for the day to day operation of the school, and includes covering the wages of all support staff employed at the school.

If the Minster had not agreed to continue to fund operational grants at existing levels through 2011, then some boards/schools would have little option but to immediately start a process of reducing support staff hours, or making support staff redundant says Ray Newport.

“I would expect that with the Ministers assurance regarding continuity of funding through 2011, boards /school would continue to maintain the employment of existing support staff during that period”.

The Ministers agreement to maintain funding through 2011 is very welcome, and we would hope that students continue to return “home” during this period and thus negate, or at least reduce, the need for wholesale reductions in operational funding on affected schools after 2011.

ENDS

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