Nineteen secondary schools around the country will receive a big boost in property funding this financial year following the release today of the new secondary school property guide.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard visited Tawa College in Wellington today to announce the new guide. Tawa College will receive nearly $1 million to bring the school's property up to the standard in the new guide. Eighteen other schools around the country will receive property boosts in this financial year worth, in total, nearly $20 million.

It is expected about a further 20 schools will receive funding next year to address code deficiencies under the new guide.

The new property guide for year 9 – 13 (forms 3 – 7) schools, takes effect immediately, and provides, on average, a 24% increase in entitlement compared to the old property code. The new guide replaces the old code developed some thirty years ago.

It will provide schools with the flexibility to organise their property within their total net entitlement area.

"The Government is committed to a fair property programme for schools which will help them provide opportunity for excellence for their students," Trevor Mallard said.

“The new guide recognises the needs of the modern secondary school and diversity in the sector. We can’t afford to have outmoded rules which group all schools under the same setup,” Trevor Mallard said.

“Things have changed. The curriculum has been updated. Different schools now want to do different things for their students, and the surroundings have to complement each school’s individual needs.”

"Under the new guide New Zealand secondary schools will compare very favourably with those overseas.

“Roll growth will mean that the new guide will continue to provide secondary schools with benefits into the future.

“Schools not eligible for increased area through the code deficiency programme will gain by increased modernisation funding. This is being adjusted effective from 1 July 2001.”

The primary school property guide was updated in 1999, while the guides for other types of schools (including intermediates, forms 1-7 schools and area schools) are also being reviewed.

Secondary School Code Deficiency Programme

In 2001/02, the Ministry will fund high priority deficiencies resulting from the introduction of the new Secondary School Property Guide as part of an on-going programme. The following state secondary schools (years 9-13) have been determined to have high priority deficiencies and will be funded in the 2001/02 Code Deficiency Programme:

District School name Estimated funding
Northland Kamo High School $767,000
Auckland Howick College $2,476,000
Avondale College $2,657,000
Glendowie College $989,000
Onehunga High School $1,234,000
Waikato Hauraki Plains College $358,000
Forest View High School $470,000
Bay of Plenty Tauhara College $976,000
Trident High School $881,000
Whakatane High School $1,224,000
Napier Napier Boys’ High School $414,000
Wanganui Wanganui High School $758,000
Palmerston North Boys’ High School $147,000
Wellington Tawa College $993,000
Wellington Girls’ College $415,000
Nelson Nayland College $298,000
Canterbury Christchurch Girls’ High School $705,000
Otago Otago Girls’ High School $519,000
Southland James Hargest High School $1,904,000

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>