Teachers in limbo over jobs decision

The Correspondence School has delayed a crunch decision on its future, leaving teachers and support staff in limbo.

The school board said yesterday that it was extending a consultation period to decide on the future shape of the school, as management try to deal with a $6 million deficit.

It is understood that up to 120 of the 500 jobs could be at risk under a restructuring, which could see home visits stopped for some children.

Chief executive Debbie Francis said a final consultation document had been prepared and a further five weeks would be left open for staff to make their views known.

It means an anxious wait for staff, who are likely to face some job losses as the school moves from a central structure to regional bases.

The school is being forced into changes after undergoing a major transformation over the past five years.

It used to cater primarily for students living in remote areas of the country who were unable to travel to a school each day, but today the majority of its roll are special needs students who are also enrolled in state schools and live in urban areas.

Colin Tarr, president of the union New Zealand Educational Institute, said an increase in staff workload had not been matched by Government funding.

It meant staff had been providing a level of service that far exceeded funding and, as a result, the school was left with a $6.5 million deficit.

NZEI represents around 200 teachers and support staff working for the school in Wellington.

Mr Tarr said the union would be working with members through the consultation period to protect their rights.

Teaching and support staff are based across four sites in Wellington, offering distance learning programmes to almost all levels of education.

Regional representatives throughout the country provide support to full-time students and their families.