School bus proposal angers Northland principals

Hundreds of Northland students may have to change schools because the Government plans to reduce the distance school buses travel.

Many principals are furious the Ministry of Education wants students who choose to go to a school outside their school zone to find their own way to school for part of the journey.

The principals claim up to a third of their rolls could move to other schools as their families would not be able to afford to arrange other means of transport.

If students leave, subjects will have to be cut, resulting in other students suffering, principals say.

Okaihau College principal Alan Forgie said 133 of his 470 students were from out of the school's zone and most would not be able to afford to pay to travel from outlying areas.

"It appears the Government is picking on the people who cannot afford to make the choice," Mr Forgie said.

He was angry the Government had not consulted principals about the policy change, but since principals had been flooding the Ministry of Education with angry letters, the ministry had extended a submissions deadline from July 8 to November 23.

Mr Forgie admitted a proposal to improve safety standards on buses was a good move.

Otamatea High School principal Haydn Hutching said his school could lose 80 of its 496 students.

He was sceptical $7.9 million of extra funding pledged for direct resourcing over four years would adequately cover bus routes. "How does this fit in with Government policies on ensuring every school is able to provide the same quality education?"

It is believed schools in urban centres, as well as primary schools, could be equally hurt by the policy change.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the funding formula had not changed since 1996 and the extension of the consultation period would "give schools more time to understand and provide feedback on the effect of the proposed policy changes".

New Zealand First education spokesman Brian Donnelly said Labour was taking away parents' choices of where to send their children to school.

"Putting off the application of this policy until after the election is cold comfort to rural parents. If Labour is back in government, rural parents will have to put up and shut up," Mr Donnelly said.

- NZPA