Figure 1.--Schools often charge a fee for the materials used in subjects like workshop and art.
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Figure 1.--Schools often charge a fee for the materials used in subjects like workshop and art. |
Public education is free in New Zealand. Governmen funding was esentially frozen with only minimal increases at most schools during much of the 1990s. The schools as a result have had to carefully assess their finances and expenditures. As a result, modest fees were either implemented or expanded. There is a general activity fee as well as a various
other fees for different activities are certain classes such as shop where the students use a variety of materials. Financial support is available for families that cannot afford the needed fees.
Almost all State schools charge parents and caregivers some fees in order to provide its students with many of the activities which they may choose to take part in. These fees are kept as low as possible and include:
This is an annual fee payable by parents or caregivers of students. It is voluntary, however the school cannot meet all its financial commitments without it. This money contributes to the cost of additional education, cultural, sporting and social activities, the Community Pool, library books, and capital expenditure as approved by the Board of Trustees. This levy is set by the Board of Trustees and in the mid-1990s typical fees at a secondary school were NZ$40 or $75 for two or more stuidents in the family.
Many courses which require supplies like workshop, art, some science classes and others have course fees. This varies from school to school. Stusents are often asked not to enroll unless they are prepared to pay the fees.
Some departments have field trips as part of the teaching requirement. Costs are kept as low as possible and publicised well before the trip is to take place. In cases of hardship, application should be made to the Principal or a Counsellor. When students confirm their subject choices in January, it is seen as a commitment to complete necessary fieldwork and meet related costs. There are also the Form 3 Ski Trips and Form 4 Outdoor Education camps in which students are strongly recommended to take part.
Free text books are lent to students by the College. If they are damaged or lost, students will be charged for the replacement.
These are fees to cover materials used by the student that have a "take home component" i.e. the traditional costs for a workshop project, art, or home economics project.
Music tuition is available to all students in all orchestral instruments, recorder, guitar and vocal music. Usually instruments are available from the College for a maintenance fee which could be between $20 and $30. For information contact a music teacher in the Music Suite.
In an attempt to hold the cost of the General Activities Levy, the school magazine is charged for as a separate item (i. e. user pays).
Some subject have a stationery charge. The stationery is specific to the subjects and sold to students at cost. Students use this instead of exercise books as in other] subjects. All other stationery is a student's responsibility. A full stationery list is issued in February each year.
Some subjects at senior level use considerable amounts of photocopy material which students keep to supplement text and teaching material. Often this material is used instead of stationery as notes and other information can be written on it during lessons. A charge may be made.
Parents are encouraged to pay school fees by mid-March and a collection day is set aside for that purpose. By arrangement, parents can pay in instalments before mid-term break in July.
Some of the available financial support and in meeting school costs is available through:
Bursaries may be available to children of deceased or disabled servicemen. Applications are made through the Department of Social Welfare and must be renewed each year.
New Zealand students may have to board for a number of reasons. One is the children may live at some distance from their schools-requiring lengthy bus trips in the morning and afternoon. Most boarding schools are private schools, but many secondary schools have boarding hostels. The Ministry of Education may provide allowances for students from remote country areas who are not able to travel to and from school each day and therefore have to board in town.
Travel allowances mMay be available to students who cannot use a boarding allowance. The schools that offer these allowances may set a minimum distance to qualify, typically about 5 kilometres from the school and the nearest school bus service.
The PTA at many schools have set up a modest fund to help students in difficult financial circumstances. Enquiries and applications should be made to the Principal.
