Editorial: Schools caught in the middle

Schools appear to be being placed in a no-win situation by the funding cuts to specialist subjects and new class ratios.

As one school principal has pointed out, on one hand the Government is asking schools to raise achievement, but on the other it is making it harder for schools to do this by cutting resources.

At the moment schools have a general staffing ratio of 1 teacher per 29 students and one teacher for 120 students in specialist technology subjects.

Under the National Government's controversial policy, the teacher student ratio would be one teacher per 27.5 students but there would be no staff for specialised subjects.

That would mean schools would lose specialist staff and if they wanted to keep specialist subjects, they would have to make staff cuts elsewhere.

Prime Minister John Key gave an assurance the Government would iron out problems with a change in class size ratios, conceding it meant some schools would lose a significant number of teachers.

He said there would be a minimal impact for 90 per cent of schools - most would lose or gain one teacher. However, other schools - mainly intermediates - would be "overly affected".

But those in the eduction sector are sceptical about the working party set up to iron out the issues, believing the changes will go ahead regardless.

Parents will no doubt have serious concerns about the move.

Providing a broad curriculum and resources that allow teachers time to treat students as individuals and cater for their learning needs and interests might cost more but how do you place a value on providing an environment that encourages young people to learn and achieve?

If nothing else, a robust well-resourced education system that produces an educated population helps stem the downstream social costs that are often associated with academic under-achievement such as crime and welfare.