Scholarship places mooted as private schools await $10m boost

Private schools are poised for a big funding boost from the Government.

A $10 million injection for private schools is "as good as guaranteed", insiders say.

The Press understands there are plans to spend some of that money on scholarships for students who could not otherwise afford to attend a private school.

Associate Education Minister Heather Roy was this week delegated special responsibility for the country's 101 independent schools.

Roy, who is ACT's deputy leader, told private school chief executives in Wellington this week that independent schools "set a benchmark for quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness". State schools should try to emulate the success of independent schools, she said.

ACT policy is for a voucher system where students have a bursary to attend their school of choice.

Independent Schools Education Association chief executive Grant Gillon said the promise of a $10m boost for private schools was "pretty much as guaranteed as it can be".

Gillon, who met Roy yesterday, said her appointment was a "major boost". "Independent schools have been off the radar, and even integrated schools have found it difficult to get on the radar with the particular issues they have," Gillon said.

Some private schools have said they will be forced to integrate in the state system as the recession hits rolls.

Nine private schools in the past year have told the Government they want to become integrated. Ten had inquired in the previous six years.

Post Primary Teachers Association president Kate Gainsford has attacked the integration bids as a "bailout for private businesses".

Gillon said that while the $10m boost was welcome it was "a bit of a Band-Aid" and would not go far. "We just hope that it doesn't go into the coffers and get lost," he said.

He was worried by the idea of government scholarships for students to attend private schools.

"By tagging it to a scholarship, it means that there will actually be an increase in the roll of the school. It could just go to repay debt or something like that."

Independent Schools of New Zealand executive director Deborah James said the "crippling" capped funding regime of the former Labour government, combined with the recession, had put "real pressure" on the financial sustainability of independent schools.

- © Fairfax NZ News