9. AARON GILMORE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What recent decisions have been made regarding schooling in Christchurch?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Good news! I am pleased to inform the House that full pre-earthquake operational funding for Christchurch schools is to be extended until the end of the year. This decision means that schools in Christchurch will continue to receive funding for the number of pupils they had before the February earthquake. In addition, Christchurch’s schools will have access to their full staffing entitlement, and teacher numbers will not be reduced during 2011. Double funding will also continue, with schools around the country still being resourced for enrolling Christchurch students. The schools in the city are doing a fantastic job, many of them in very difficult circumstances.
We have put in a great deal of support for schooling in Christchurch. I recently announced that study centres have been established across the city. These will be staffed by trained and registered teachers, and will focus on students in years 11, 12, and 13 to give young people a place to go and do their homework, study for tests, or seek extra help from trained teachers. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has announced that for the National Certificate of Educational Achievement’s external assessment, a separate derived grade process will be established. There will be a simplified process of collecting evidence for internal assessment, and there will be a special credit inclusion appeal process. I am also pleased to inform the House that urgent repairs have allowed Heaton Normal Intermediate to return to its original site, after double bunking for much of term 1.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Will she consider extending the pre-earthquake operational funding and staffing levels until the end of 2012, given that the ministry will otherwise notify the affected schools of next year’s reduced staffing entitlements in October, at a time when schools will need to be focused very much on the needs of their students living in very damaged homes and very damaged suburbs?
No. We are putting in a great deal of support, and there will be support available for schools as they work through that difficult process.
Hon Lianne Dalziel Link to this
Will the Minister ensure that Project Early, a very successful programme modelled on the Incredible Years programme operating in the eastern suburbs since the 1990s, is fully funded by the ministry, in light of the Ministry of Social Development’s untimely advice just prior to the earthquake that its funding would be cut at the end of this year?