Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday 10 June 2008

Richard Wallis supports North Shore Principals

Alliance education spokesperson Richard Wallis says that he fully supports the fifteen North Shore principals who are refusing to have anything to do with Schools Plus until the dire underfunding of schools is addressed.

"While Education Minister Chris Carter talks of schools being funded to implement the new Schools Plus programme, no mention of this funding was made in the budget so where is the money coming from?"

Mr Wallis says it is time the Government fronted up with the funds needed to enable schools to do what is currently asked of them, without expecting then to implement even more unfunded changes.

Mr Wallis says that while Schools Plus contains some worthwhile initiatives, the concerns of teachers and principals need to be addressed.

"We want to know how this change is going to be implemented and funded. The shoestring budget is stretched too far now as it is, anymore and it will snap."

ENDS

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