Fee-paying pupils stay away

Schools are feeling the pinch financially as international student numbers drop, the School Trustees Association says.

This further highlights the inadequacy of school operations grant funding, association president Chris Haines told the association's annual conference, which started yesterday in Christchurch.

Education Ministry figures show that between 2003 and last year the proportion of full-time foreign fee-paying students at primary schools dropped by 30 per cent and the number in secondary schools fell 21 per cent.

"School finances are falling under increasing pressure as this key stream of revenue dries up," Mr Haines said.

Many schools had been depending on international students to help fill the gap created by inadequate operations grant funding from the Government.

"Increasingly boards are being forced to look at fundraising and support from local organisations to cover the shortfall in funding," Mr Haines said.

Independent research by the Education Research Council shows schools' ability to raise money from non-governmental sources may well be peaking. "This adds to the financial pressures schools are facing."

The association is involved in a review of operations grant funding led by the ministry and results from the review are due this year.

Other issues to be discussed at the conference include drug testing in schools and safety and security concerns around new technology.

- NZPA