School Trustees Welcome Government Funding Move

The New Zealand School Trustees Association has welcomed the news that the Government is introducing a new way of funding the upgrading and maintenance of school buildings.

NZSTA President Owen Edgerton says boards of trustees will be very pleased that the new system will offer schools more certainty as they work through their capital works programmes.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced yesterday that the Government is introducing a five-year capital works programme for schools. The programme will begin with 60 schools this year and should be in all schools in five years time.

Owen Edgerton says the new system offers boards of trustees certainty that they have not had in the past about their property projects.

“Boards put big effort into their ten year property plans but there was no guarantee that they would get the funding to actually get on with the job.”

He says the move to this five year property programme will give boards more teeth in the management of their property, with capital works projects occurring when they are required rather than by chance.

“Maintaining and upgrading schools is a big job and it has been frustrating for boards to have to operate when funding has often been a bit of a lottery.”

Owen Edgerton says boards will welcome the idea that means they can work through their priorities with the Ministry of Education knowing that resources will be available.

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For further information contact: Owen Edgerton 025 441 397

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