Parents cheating system to get children into Catholic schools

Non-Catholic parents are baptising their children, befriending priests and even going to church on Sundays in an effort to improve their children's chances of getting a Catholic education.

With waiting lists for Catholic schools at an all-time high, principals suspect some parents are "exaggerating their Catholic credentials" to enhance their children's enrolment prospects.

Catholic schools are seen as offering a cheap, but quality, alternative to expensive private schools for those parents who don't wish to send their children to a state-funded school.

Average annual fees range between $240 and $500 a year - about double the cost of a state education, but thousands of dollars less than private schools.

The efforts by non-Catholic parents to get around the Church's tough selection criteria is another twist in the whole school selection saga that has forced some teachers to try to catch out parents trying to get around the rules.

Schools have reported more and more parents are making false declarations about where they live in a bid to get their children into the school of their choice.

Some parents have given addresses of industrial properties, half-built houses and, in one case, a massage parlour.

Catholic Education Office chief executive Pat Lynch said pressure for places was an issue throughout the country, especially in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Non-Catholics make up 5 per cent of the roll in most Catholic schools but with demand for a Catholic education so high, many students are being turned away.

Auckland's Sacred Heart College could not find places for 80 students this year - 40 Catholic and 40 non-Catholic.

School principal Philip Mahoney said many non-Catholic parents were annoyed when they discovered their child had missed out, especially as some, he suspected, went to extreme lengths to improve chances of enrolment.

"People think to become preferential and move higher up the list they will baptise their children, start going to church or become good friends with their parish priest. But there are categories for how we choose students, and how many Sundays you go to church isn't one of them."

Auckland's Catholic, co-educational Sancta Maria College this year took 150 new students from 300 wanting to get in.

Principal Paul Daley said this put the school under a great deal of pressure as it still had 127 pupils on its waiting list.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY