More cash for boarding students

By LAUREN MENTJOX

The boarding bursary for isolated rural families will rise 16 per cent to $2725 a year for each student.

The increase, announced yesterday by Education Minister Trevor Mallard, follows a 17 per cent rise in February.

Mr Mallard said the increase, which would cost an extra $4.47 million over four years, would help to ensure that isolated and rural families could continue to get the best possible education for their children.

Total spending on the bursary will now be $32.15 million over the next four years.

"The increase recognises the costs families face in sending children to boarding school, and I want to ensure the value of the bursary is sufficient to make boarding a real option for struggling families."

Mr Mallard said that to ensure the bursaries went to families who needed them, the Ministry of Education would work with rural communities and education groups to review eligibility criteria.

"Some of the eligibility criteria are unused, and some, such as the distance criterion, have not been updated in 99 years.

"With modern transport options, the distance criterion at 4.8km from the nearest suitable school or school transport route may no longer be valid."

Any changes would not affect those now receiving the bursary, and any money saved would be reinvested in the scheme, said Mr Mallard.

He made the announcement while meeting boarders at Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland.

The school's 119 boarders come mainly from Northland, the Coromandel area and the Hauraki Gulf islands.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, Cabinet Secretary Diane Morcom and Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff are former boarders.

Associate principal Sally Dalzell said about 10 per cent of the school's boarders received the bursary.

The extra money would be welcomed by families living in isolated parts of the country, she said.

"The increase is just touching the tip of the iceberg, but for people from places like Great Barrier Island where there aren't any schools, any money is a great help."