Katherine Rich MP
National Party Education Spokeswoman

5 December 2006

Paying for copy of school report outrageous

It is outrageous that some schools are demanding that parents pay for a second copy of their child’s school report, says National’s Education spokeswoman, Katherine Rich.

She is releasing a letter sent to a parent by Rangiora High School confirming that it will charge $20 for the second copy of a report for a child whose parents are separated.

“This is totally unacceptable.

“It is a parent’s absolute right to know how his or her child is doing in school, and the Government should be making it easier not harder for parents to be informed.

“We live in an era where many parents don’t live together, but both parents want to know how their child is doing at school.

“I can’t see how a Labour Government can reconcile a parent’s absolute right to know how a child is doing at school with the decision of Rangiora High school to charge $20 for a second report.

“Saying ‘pay up or you won’t get the information on how your child is doing’ is morally wrong.

“I worry that some parents under financial pressure cannot afford to pay to get the report.

“The Minister of Education, Steve Maharey, should make it crystal clear to schools that this practice is not allowed – or is this just more of Labour’s user-pays by stealth?

“The Minister needs to make it clear to all schools that charging for reports is a no-no.”

ENDS

For copy of school’s letter, go to: http://www.national.org.nz/files/rich_rangiora.pdf

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