SCHOOL STAFFING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 718, 18 July 1929, Page 16

SCHOOL STAFFING

NEW BASIS WANTED WOULD BE TOO COSTLY (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A s the step would involve an addition of about 10 per cent, to the staffs of schools, and the total cost probably would he £150,000 a year, the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, has had to turn down regretfully a request from Mr. R. McKeen (Wellington South) that staffing and the payment of capitation fees to school committees should be based on the average roll number Instead of on the average attendance, as as present. “As the average roll is over 10 per cent, more than the average attendance,” said the Minister, “the adoption of the average roll as a basis for staffing would mean an addition of about 10 per cent, to the staffs of schools, other than sole-teacher schools, for which about 500 additional teachers would be needed. “The allowances to school committees would be similarly increased, and the total cost would be approximately £ 150,000 per annum. It is therefore regretted that the suggested change cannot be made at present. “At the same time it must he pointed out that schools are staffed strictly in accordance with their needs, and that where it is shown that an additional teacher is necessary to reduce the size of classes, that assistant is supplied.”