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Source: Wiki Commons -
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A primary school is offering free uniforms, books and bags to get students through the door to hold onto government funding, but educational experts are warning schools could get caught in a bidding war if the scheme takes off.
Taumarunui Primary School is offering the sweeteners in a bid to attract new students.
Principal Bethwen Crockett said offering extras also including teacher aides in every class, free buses to and from school and a daily breakfast through the kick-start programme was so the school could maintain its roll and continue to provide small classes sizes.
"Taumarunui is a rural area with a population that is already dropping and with the economic situation people are leaving the town and it can affect our roll. Because of that we have been motivated to attract new 5 year olds and those who are new to the town."
The decile one school employs 29 paid staff and class sizes of no more than 20 with the maximum number of children in the new entrances classes set at 14.
Crockett said new enrolments had meant that 2011 staffing levels had been maintained and with 17 primary schools in a 50-kilometre radius the initiative and associated advertising was a smart business decision.
"Under Tomorrow's Schools, boards of trustees have been made to operate as a business and businesses market themselves."
New Zealand Education Institute Waikato Principal Council chairman Steve Ostermann said he did not expect other schools to start similar offers because they could face accusations of poaching.
"In terms of giving an inducement that would be a bit unusual and the ethics of that may well be questioned by other principals because of the impact it would have."
Government briefing papers this week revealed Treasury is pushing cost-cutting measures, including more children per class and school closures, to free money for better-quality teaching.
Labour education spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta said research she had been provided showed children benefited from small class sizes particularly in specialist subjects, but conceded schools had to adapt to keep their rolls up. "I'm sure that they [Taumarunui Primary School] would want to ensure that they are giving their children the very best that they can."
Two prominent Waikato principals told the Times schools needed to be innovative when promoting themselves.
Judy Dixon, principal of Hamilton's Frankton Primary School, said falling school rolls often impacted the whole community.
"It's pretty tough for a school to have to buy those sort of things to get kids to go to their school. It's just so sad that it's a competitive market when education should be collaborative."
Rhode Street School principal Shane Ngatai said principals preferred to highlight students' achievement and his school's learning environment rather than offer incentives.
"There's a Maori proverb that says a kumara doesn't speak of its own sweetness - so we'd rather have parents visit our school and see first-hand what we do."
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