School terms rejig riles parents

By STUART DYE, education reporter

The Government is facing a backlash from parents over its decision to rejig school terms and holidays.

Parents say they were not consulted on changes that have proved "high-handed and discriminatory".

The Parent Teacher Association says it was left out of talks on altering the academic calendar.

Schools will start a week later, finish as close to Christmas as possible and have an extra week's holiday in the winter term from 2006.

The PTA president, Dianne O'Sullivan, said the first the association knew of the changes was when they were announced - despite the fact that disruption for parents would be enormous.

"There has been no consultation when such a change affects parents so much," said Ms O'Sullivan. "Considering how long it took to change from a three-term to a four-term year [about 40 years] this seems precipitate, high-handed and discriminatory."

The School Trustees' Association, representing boards of trustees usually made up of parents, also said it had not been consulted.

President Chris France said the Ministry of Education had told him that some changes might be needed. "I'm not quite sure what happened after that. None of this was discussed and we're a bit bemused," he said.

The main sticking point is the extra week's break to accommodate the annual winter sports tournament for secondary schools.

It is likely to be a standalone week in the middle of the third term.

Announcing the move, Acting Education Minister Steve Maharey said the holiday would mean less disruption when many pupils and teachers were away.

It would also help teachers as it meant they would no longer have to prepare lessons while away with sports teams, or catch up when they returned.

But according to Secondary Schools Sports Council figures, most schools send only two or three teams to the tournament, with some sending none at all.

Ms O'Sullivan said it would force many parents to pay for extra childcare or to take time off to look after their children.

The finalised dates are expected to be announced within the next fortnight.

Mr Mallard said teachers, principals and other groups had been involved in the discussions.

There had also been "consistent and ongoing" representations from parents and others in the community for the primary and secondary school years to be aligned, he said.

Term changes

* Schools will start the year a week later and finish as close to Christmas as possible.

* There will be an extra week's holiday in the winter term from 2006 to accommodate the secondary schools' winter sports tournament.

* Exact dates are due in about two weeks.