Any government school in the Cook Islands that claims it needs to fundraise for basics like pens and pencils needs to rethink its financial priorities, says Secretary of Education Ken Matheson.
That’s because every school in the country receives sufficient government funding to buy basic resources, he says.
Matheson was commenting on last week’s claims by Tereora College PTA chairman Gus Meyer that the school committee is being forced to spend fundraising money on buying basic items which he says should be government’s responsibility.
Meyer says efforts to improve standards are being hampered by a lack of vital equipment including essentials like desks, chairs and filing cabinets.
But Matheson says schools throughout the world fund raise to improve opportunities for their students, and Tereora is no different.
He says the college’s operating budget is $70,000 a year – $138 for each of Tereora’s 506 pupils.
While both Meyer and college principal Darrell Waiti say the school desperately needs more desks and chairs, Matheson, on the other hand, says the Ministry has in fact provided Tereora with 265 new chairs and 205 new desks at a rate that exceeds the figure allowed for by government’s furniture replacement policy.
And he says Tereora’s operating budget has more than doubled in four years, from just $31,000 in 2000 to $70,000 this year. On top of that, the college has also received an extra $97,000 worth of recourse through the School Resources Project.
“Classroom refurbishments at Tereora costing $400,000 have been completed. Through the school capital budget, the government has on average provided Tereora with one photocopier a year and 10 computers a year. The Ministry has also facilitated the provision of computers to Tereora from other sources.”
Matheson says he does not know what Meyer is referring to when he says his talks with the Ministry of Education regarding Tereora’s problems have been unsuccessful. 
“Mr Meyer has regularly met and worked with the Ministry in regard to staff appointments at Tereora and his input is highly valued by the Ministry. However there have been no recent or regular meetings on school finances.”
Matheson says government’s plan for increased school investment began several years ago with the Asian Development Bank Education Development Project which injected millions of dollars of books, learning resources and furniture into schools throughout the Cook Islands, including Tereora.
“To sustain and build on this investment the government initiated school operating budgets and school capital budgets and with assistance from our aid partners, implemented the European Union funded Outer Island Development Project (about $500,000 a year for school resources nd facilities), the NZAID-funded School Resources Project (about $160,000 a year) and the NZAID-funded Schools Refurbishment Project (about $700,000 a year).
“The plan also requires schools to develop and implement cost recovery and revenue generation policies.”
Matheson says the Ministry “applauds and appreciates” the efforts being made by school committee chairpersons and members such as Meyer to improve the standards in Cook Isalnds schools.
However to focus solely on operating budgets is to ignore the bigger picture and the other factors that contribute to educational outcomes, he adds.
“Before 1999, no government school had an operating budget from government, yet many of these schools, including Tereora, were able to deliver excellent learning programmes.
“Therefore schools in the Cook Islands today, with their increased support, can provide an excellent standard of education.
“Although excellent standards can be achieved under the current system, the Ministry is of the view that increased school operating budgets will better ensure that such standards are attained and maintained.”
Matheson says the Ministry of Education asked for a 100 percent increase in school operating budgets in its 2005-2006 Budget, but ended up with “significantly less” than requested.
The Ministry remains committed to seeking more funds for school operations, he adds. – Cameron Scott
ENDS