$3m boost for brightest children

By DITA DE BONI

Educators are applauding the allocation of $3 million for programmes aimed at gifted children.

It is the first Government money given specifically for super-smart students.

But they say the money - which has to cover approved programmes and research into giftedness from preschool to secondary level across the country - is only a small first step toward properly catering to the needs of gifted children.

The founding director of the George Parkyn National Centre for Gifted Education in Auckland, Rosemary Cathcart, said advocates for gifted children - about 5 per cent of the school population - had fought hard to gain recognition from ministers of education for their needs, but the present minister, Trevor Mallard, had been the first to listen and allocate money to the cause.

"The children we get through this centre are often lonely, isolated and frustrated with regular schooling, but we feel all children have a right to top learning opportunities.

"The fact that he cares enough to have established this funding pool means he will have made a difference in children's lives".

The George Parkyn Centre, in Grey Lynn, trains teachers to recognise giftedness, researches it and holds day courses for more than 500 children each year.

It runs on an annual budget of $500,000, which comes from sponsors and from parents who pay according to their income levels.

But because no Government money is available to extend services, Ms Cathcart believes many children miss out.

"We firmly believe that gifted children come from all backgrounds. But even if we charge minimal fees, it is still out of the reach of some parents."

Making the money "contestable" - so those wanting a share will have to apply for it - may prove controversial but Ms Cathcart said other methods of funding, including allocating a small amount of money to each school or "clustering" schools, would not have been the best solution.

She said the $3 million was "not enough.

"We have found that there about 173 fundamental questions about giftedness in New Zealand that have not been studied at all.

Christine Fernyhough, executive trustee of the Gifted Kids Programme in Tamaki and Tikipunga in Whangarei, also hopes for money from the fund to avoid having to close the programme.

She said many low-income families could not afford to send children to courses that charge.

"Most of these communities have raised some funds towards opening Gifted Kids Programmes ... however, to make them a reality, significant funding from the Ministry of Education is needed."

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