School property management needs to fit learning needs

Immediate Release
24 September 2013

School property management needs to fit learning and community needs

NZEI Te Riu Roa says it is important that any changes to the way school property is managed is based around learning and community needs.

NZEI Past President Ian Leckie says he is pleased that the Minister of Education Hekia Parata has rejected earlier suggestions that all school property be placed into a crown owned entity.

“At the time we strongly opposed that because it would have left school property vulnerable to privatisation or some form public private partnership.

“The management of school property is a complex issue and needs the specialist knowledge of the Ministry of Education. So it is good news that along with keeping school property as part of the Ministry of Education, there are also plans to raise the status of the Ministry’s property management unit.”

“It is vital that the sector continues to play a significant role in the strategy over property management in order to continue to develop high quality learning environments.”

Mr Leckie says he welcomes the development of a facilities management service for schools that want it.

”Some school principals and boards of trustees who want to step away from day to day property management will no doubt welcome this.”

“However the important thing here is that school property is managed in consultation with schools and their communities and is based on individual needs and quality learning requirements.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media